Drake Bell opened up about the lack of apologies from celebrities who supported his abuser, Brian Peck, after the release of Investigation Discovery’s Quiet on Set docuseries. In the series, Bell revealed the sexual abuse he experienced from Peck, a Nickelodeon dialogue coach, when he was a minor. Peck was arrested in 2003 on 11 charges of child sexual abuse, with Bell filing as a John Doe to protect his identity. Despite the support Peck received from celebrities like Will Friedle, Rider Strong, Taran Killam, and James Marsden during the sentencing, none of them have apologized to Bell following the release of the docuseries.
Episode 5, titled “Breaking the Silence,” premiered on Apr. 7 and shows Bell discussing the abuse he faced with Soledad O’Brien. Bell expressed his disappointment at the lack of outreach from the celebrities who supported Peck during his trial. Friedle, one of the celebrities who supported Peck, later expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging that they were on the wrong side of the situation in the courtroom. Bell responded to Friedle’s comments, mentioning that Friedle had ample opportunities to apologize or address the situation when they worked together on the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, but he never did.
In the new episode, Bell discusses the difficulty of bringing up such a traumatic topic in a work environment like the one he shared with Friedle on Spider-Man. He acknowledges that everyone processes trauma differently and comes to realizations at different times in their lives. Despite the lack of apologies from the celebrities who supported Peck, Bell appreciates their perspective now, understanding the complexities of dealing with traumatic experiences and confronting them with time and reflection.
Brian Peck pleaded no contest to two charges of child sexual abuse and was sentenced to 16 months in jail. Following his release, he was required to register as a sex offender. Quiet on Set, the docuseries that shed light on Bell’s experience and the abuse he faced from Peck, is currently streaming on Max and Discovery+. The series explores the dark side of kids’ television and the experiences of child actors who have faced abuse in the industry, bringing awareness to the issue and encouraging discussions about sexual abuse and assault.
In light of the sensitive and difficult subject matter discussed in Quiet on Set, resources like RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) are available for those who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. RAINN provides support 24/7 through their hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) and online at RAINN.org for individuals seeking help, guidance, and resources related to sexual abuse and assault. The docuseries serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting survivors, raising awareness about these issues, and providing avenues for those in need of help to seek assistance and healing.
