Los Angeles, California – Former Nickelodeon star Josh Peck finally addressed criticism regarding his silence on co-star Drake Bell’s recent sexual abuse revelations. The two actors rose to fame on the hit Noughties sitcom “Drake & Josh,” playing stepbrothers on the popular show.
In the new documentary series “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” Bell made shocking claims of suffering sexual abuse at the age of 15 at the hands of actor and dialogue coach Brian Peck. The allegations deeply affected Dan Schneider, the executive producer at the time of the show’s airing.
After days of silence following the documentary’s release, Peck took to Instagram to share a statement expressing his support for the survivors who came forward with their stories of abuse at Nickelodeon sets. He emphasized the importance of protecting children and the need for necessary changes within the industry to prevent such incidents from happening again.
Bell, on the other hand, urged fans to show compassion towards Peck, who faced backlash for not speaking out sooner. He emphasized the emotional toll of processing such traumatic events publicly and shared that Peck had reached out to him in a sensitive manner to help work through the situation.
In 2003, Brian Peck, who is not related to Josh Peck, faced arrest on multiple charges related to sexual abuse allegations involving a minor. Following a plea of no contest to charges of performing lewd acts and oral copulation with a minor, Brian Peck was sentenced to prison and required to register as a sex offender in 2004.
The documentary series, “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” delves into the toxic work environments within children’s shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Its airing has prompted discussions on industry practices and the importance of creating safe spaces for young actors.
Available for streaming on Max and Discovery+, the docuseries offers a deeper look into the challenges faced by child actors and sheds light on the need for better protection and support systems within the entertainment industry.