In a shocking revelation, Drake Bell, former Nickelodeon star of The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh, has opened up about the brutal sexual abuse he experienced as a child actor at the hands of his dialogue coach turned parental figure, Brian Peck. In an interview with Investigation Discovery's docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, Bell spoke for the first time about being sexually assaulted by Peck when he was just 15 years old.
Peck drove a wedge between Drake and his father Robert after Drake reported concerns about Peck's behavior to production team. Robert had noticed that cards sent to Drake from Brian and friends were inappropriate, but it wasn't until later that the full extent of the abuse was revealed.
Bell's story has sparked a wave of allegations against Nickelodeon, with several former child stars claiming they were mistreated while working at the network. Devon Werkheiser and Lindsey Shaw from Ned's Declassified have acknowledged that what happened to Drake is terrible and it's crazy it stayed under wraps for as long as it did.
However, some of their comments during a TikTok Live seemed to make light of the situation. Devon impersonated a tyrant, presumably Dan Schneider, saying 'give me your holes.' He later acknowledged that they shouldn't joke about the topic and noted that their set from Ned's Declassified was not in any way like what was described in the doc.
Meanwhile, a leaked video has surfaced showing Dan Schneider in a hot tub with 16-year-old Amanda Bynes. The clip comes just as the documentary titled Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV was released.
Schneider has faced several accusations of creating a toxic work environment on the sets of his Nickelodeon shows, with many former child stars alleging he was verbally abusive and behaved inappropriately towards young actors. These accusations have circulated for years, but it wasn't until 2018 that Nickelodeon announced they had parted ways with Schneider.
The hot tub scene in question is from a reoccurring sketch called Amanda’s Jacuzzi, where Amanda Bynes had surprise guests in the hot tub as she asked a round of interview questions. When you watch the video, it's clear that Amanda was very young and wearing a swimsuit while Dan sat next to her fully clothed.
Some commentators have called the scene 'very uncomfortable,' implying inappropriate behavior on Schneider’s part. Bynes allegedly became one of Schneider’s favorite stars, especially after she rose to fame thanks to The Amanda Show. She was seen growing closer to him over the years and had a close relationship with him.
Despite these disturbing revelations, Nickelodeon has stated that they investigate all formal complaints as part of their commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct. They have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure they are living up to their own high standards and the expectations of their audience.
It's important for former child stars like Drake Bell, Amanda Bynes, and others who have experienced abuse or mistreatment at Nickelodeon or any other network to come forward with their stories. By doing so, they can help shed light on a toxic culture that has been allowed to fester in the entertainment industry for far too long.
