The former child star explains why it took him years to finally speak out, explaining the aftermath of the abuse reveal and weighing in on Nickelodeon's statement.
- Mar 24, 2024
AceShowbiz - In a recent episode of "The Sarah Fraser Show", 37-year-old actor Drake Bell opened up about his decision to participate in the docuseries "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV". Bell, known for his starring role in "Drake & Josh", revealed that he had been hesitant to speak out about the sexual abuse he experienced as a child actor under dialogue coach Brian Peck.
A negative experience with a previous documentary project made Bell cautious. "They said that people like me were the problem, and this is why things aren't gonna change in the industry because people like you won't speak out," he recalled about the response he received when he declined to participate.
However, a conversation with "Quiet on Set" director Emma Schwartz convinced him. "She was very sensitive, and we kind of became buddies before," Bell explained. "I really felt a comfort with her."
Bell also shared his reluctance to involve his father but later realized the potential therapeutic value for his father. "I'm sure that my dad puts a lot of blame on himself," he said.
Bell entered rehab shortly after his interview, which helped him process his trauma. "Through that process, once I got out, I thought to myself, 'Maybe this is a good time to reach back out to them and say hey, I'm not 100% yet, let's talk some more.' "
Regarding Nickelodeon's response to the documentary, Bell expressed disappointment. "I find it pretty empty... they still show our shows, they still put our shows on," he said, arguing that the network's actions don't reflect genuine concern for his well-being.
