In a sobering expression of solidarity, Josh Peck has extended his “support for the survivors” of emotional and physical abuse within Nickelodeon, including those who spoke out in the investigative ID docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, one of whom is his ex-co-star Drake Bell.
Drake Bell, now age 37, has identified himself as the minor involved in the 2004 conviction of Brian Peck, a former dialogue coach at Nickelodeon. Peck, unrelated to Josh Peck, featured in All That and The Amanda Show, and he has been convicted of a lewd act against a child and oral copulation of a person under 16.
Following his viewing of the Quiet on Set series, Josh Peck provided a statement, stating, “I finished the Quiet on Set documentary and took a few days to process it. I reached out to Drake privately, but want to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world. Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families, as well as necessary change to our industry.”
Josh Peck publicly broached the subject a day subsequent to Bell’s request via TikTok for fans to resist the urge to cast aspersions on his Drake & Josh co-star online. “I’ve noticed a lot of comments… and it’s a really emotional time,” Bell remarked on Wednesday. “He has been great and reached out to help me work through this,” he added, hoping fans would temper their criticisms of Peck.
Known for their roles alongside Amanda Bynes in The Amanda Show from 1999 to 2002, Bell and Peck later headlined the popular sitcom Drake & Josh from 2004 to 2007, with a holiday movie finale in 2008, Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh.
In mid-2021, Bell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to endanger children and a misdemeanor charge involving harmful messages sent to a minor. Stemming from a 2017 occurrence, the offense involved an underage girl and Bell, then 31. Bell received a sentence of two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service.
Bell also publicized an autobiographical music video chronicling his experiences of being groomed by Brian Peck and his own legal ordeals that followed.
FAQs about Josh Peck’s Reaction to Drake Bell’s Situation
Q: What stance has Josh Peck taken on the revelations from Quiet on Set?
A: Josh Peck has expressed support for the survivors who have spoken out about their experiences of abuse on Nickelodeon sets, including Drake Bell.
Q: Has Josh Peck reached out to Drake Bell personally?
A: Yes, Peck stated that he contacted Drake Bell privately before giving public support.
Q: What are the legal issues surrounding Drake Bell?
A: In June 2021, Drake Bell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to endanger children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, relating to a 2017 incident with an underage girl.
Q: Did Drake Bell face any consequences for his legal issues?
A: Bell was sentenced to two years’ probation and 200 hours of community service following his guilty plea.
Q: Did Drake Bell release a video related to his experiences?
A: Yes, Bell released an autobiographical music video that recapped his grooming by Brian Peck and his subsequent legal issues.
Conclusion
Josh Peck’s demonstration of support for survivors of abuse on the Nickelodeon network depicts the actor’s awareness and compassion in light of his former co-star’s revelations. As the conversation around child safety in the entertainment industry continues to evolve, statements like Peck’s contribute to the push for change and validate the experiences of those who have bravely shared their stories.