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Drake Bell’s reaction to Nickeledeon’s response to the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary
The actor spoke out after the abuse revealed in the documentary ‘Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV’.
The Investigation Discovery documentary series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” has generated significant discussion in recent days due to allegations of abuse by several former Nickelodeon stars, including revelations from Drake Bell.
Bell publicly shared the story of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach. In 2003, Peck was arrested on 11 charges, including sodomy, lewd acts upon a child aged 14 or 15 by a person 10 years older, and oral copulation by anesthesia or controlled substances.
At the time, the victim’s identity was not disclosed until now, when Bell chose to speak out for the first time in the documentary. Following the premiere, Nickelodeon issued a statement. However, the actor found their response to be “hollow.”
Drake Bell’s reaction to Nickelodeon’s response
After the documentary’s release, a Nickelodeon spokesperson shared the following statement with Variety: “Now that Drake Bell has revealed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward.”
“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct,” the spokesperson added.
“Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience.,” the statement concluded.
In response, during a new episode of “The Sarah Fraser Show” podcast, Bell stated: “There’s a very well-tailored response saying, ‘Learning about his trauma,’ because they couldn’t say that they didn’t know about this or what had happened, or anything,” he said. “So I think that was a really well-tailored response by probably some big attorney in Hollywood.”
“I find it pretty empty, their responses, because, I mean, they still show our shows, they still put our shows on. And I have to pay for my own therapy, I have to figure out what – I mean if there was anything, if there was any truth behind them actually caring, there would be something more than quotes on a page by obviously a legal representative telling them exactly how to tailor a response,” he also shared.