‘My Dad Puts a Lot Of Blame on Himself’: A key reason for Drake Bell speaking out about sexual abuse

Drake Bell is shedding light on his decision to share his story in the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. The actor, who revealed the sexual abuse he experienced as a child actor by his former dialogue coach Brian Peck in the series.

During Friday's episode of The Sarah Fraser Show podcast, he revealed that he initially hesitated to take part in the series because of a negative past experience. "There was another documentary that came out years ago that requested my involvement, and when I declined, the response I got was unbelievable," Bell recalled.

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Negative Past Experiences

They asserted that individuals like him were the issue, claiming that the industry wouldn't change because people like him wouldn't speak up or come forward. The former Drake and Josh star expressed that this experience made him wary and apprehensive whenever he was approached to discuss the topic.

Initially apprehensive when approached by the Quiet on Set producers, Drake Bell felt similarly cautious. However, Emma Schwartz, one of the project's directors, ultimately helped alleviate his concerns. Following the interview, Bell entered rehab, where he confronted unresolved issues and painful experiences from his past trauma.

Drake Bell's Journey to Sharing His Story

After leaving rehab, he thought to himself, Maybe this is a good time to reach out to them and say he is not 100% yet, let's talk some more, but that he is getting closer to feeling comfortable with finally sharing his story he explained on the podcast.

When considering involving his father, Joe Bell, in the documentary, the actor expressed being very cautious about it. "I’m sure that my dad puts a lot of blame on himself," he continued. And he thought that this might be an opportunity for him to be able to realize that, you know, that it’s one person’s fault.

In 2004, Peck entered a plea of no contest to charges of oral copulation with a minor under 16 and performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old, related to Bell's case. Peck served a 16-month prison sentence and was mandated to register as a sex offender.

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