Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
The former Nickelodeon child actor Drake Bell will appear on Investigation Discovery’s Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. The network recently dropped a new clip along with a press release, teasing that Bell will speak about the alleged abuse by Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach. The upcoming four-part series premieres on ID this March 17, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
The press release from Investigation Discovery stated, “The clip reveals that former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell will be sharing publicly, for the first time, the story of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach. The release also addresses Peck’s 2004 conviction on sexual abuse charges “for his crimes against Drake.”
Per Hollywood Reporter, the new clip features an unnamed individual who says, “To hear Brian Peck was a sexual predator, it made me wonder immediately about who was being hurt.” The snippet then reveals this individual as Bell, who appears ready to talk about his experience with Peck. The clip does not reveal any further details.
According to People Magazine, Bell’s breakout role was on The Amanda Show alongside star Amanda Bynes. Shortly after the series’ conclusion, he and his co-star Josh Peck landed the lead roles in Drake & Josh. The duo played teenage stepsiblings who were complete opposites. Bell then appeared in other Nickelodeon series throughout the 2010s, including Zoey 101, Victorious, and iCarly.
Is Drake Bell married? Everything to know about his marriage to Janet Von Schmeling
In June 2021, Drake Bell revealed his marriage to long-time girlfriend Janet Von Schmeling. He also confirmed that they share a son. People Magazine reported that Bell made the revelation via a tweet. The statement said, “I have been married for almost 3 years, and we are blessed to be the parents of a wonderful son. Thank you very much to all my fans around the world for your good wishes.”
Per the report, the former star disclosed the details after he and Schmeling were photographed with a baby stroller during a visit to Disneyland. The couple were also wearing matching golden bands on their ring fingers. The pictures showed Bell pushing around the pram at the California theme park.
Another People Magazine report stated that Drake Bell and Janet Von Schmeling married in 2018 after dating for several years. However, in January 2023, a source told the outlet that the couple separated after Schmeling left the former Nickelodeon star “a few months ago.” They are now “maintaining a peaceful co-parenting relationship and giving their son the best life possible,” confirmed the source.
Page Six‘s report from last October stated that Janet Von Schmeling went Instagram-official with her new boyfriend, Jim Perez. At the time, she and Drake Bell were in the midst of a divorce.
The outlet reported that Schmeling filed for divorce in April 2023 after four years of marriage to Bell. She had cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split. The mother-of-one also requested primary legal and physical custody of their two-year-old son. Schmeling further requested visitation rights for Bell for their son while also seeking spousal support.
Drake Bell reportedly claimed that he found out that Schmeling was divorcing him from the news. He tweeted, saying, “I found out my wife filed for divorce from TMZ.”
ID’s Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV premieres on March 17, 2024.
