Drake Bell Says Josh Peck Has Privately “Reached Out” After Sexual Abuse Claims
Drake Bell Says Josh Peck Has Privately “Reached Out” After Sexual Abuse Claims Vanity Fair
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Quiet on Set: Josh Peck Breaks Silence on Drake Bell’s Abuse Allegations
March 21, 2024
Updated, March 21, 2:40 p.m. ET: Josh Peck has broken his silence on a new docuseries in which his former Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell says he was sexually abused during his years on Nickelodeon. “I finished the Quiet On Set documentary and took a few days to process it,” Peck wrote on Instagram Thursday. “I reached out to Drake privately, but wanted 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.”
He continued, “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.”
The original post continues below.
In the aftermath of Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, an Investigation Discovery docuseries about alleged abuse and misconduct at kids’ network Nickelodeon, reactions to the biggest bombshells have poured in, particularly when it comes to former network star Drake Bell. During the four-episode series, which concluded on Monday, Bell says that he was sexually abused by his vocal coach Brian Peck, whom he met on The Amanda Show set. Peck was convicted on sexual abuse charges in October 2004, sentenced to 16 months in prison, and ordered to register as a sex offender.
The abuse occurred when Bell was 15, before he began his second Nickelodeon project, Drake & Josh, in which he starred alongside Josh Peck (no relation to Brian) as a pair of stepbrothers forced to share a bedroom. They appeared in four seasons of the series, plus two movies, and have navigated a sometimes rocky offscreen relationship in the years since.
Peck did not participate in the Nickelodeon series, and has not publicly addressed Bell’s allegations. On Monday, he received backlash from fans after posting a video to TikTok in which he mouths the words to this viral sound: “If I haven’t talked to you since 2023, take that as a fucking sign that you don’t exist to me anymore.”
But Bell encouraged his followers to halt any criticism, sharing on his own TikTok on Wednesday that Peck had contacted him privately after the docuseries. “I just want to clear something up. I’ve noticed a lot of comments on some of Josh’s TikToks and some of his posts,” Bell said in the video. “Processing this and going through this is a really emotional time. A lot of it is very, very difficult, so not everything is put out to the public.”
Nancy Sullivan, who played Bell’s mom on Drake & Josh, has addressed the actor’s participation in the documentary on Instagram. “They weren’t my real kids, but I’ll always love them. It broke my heart into a million pieces to hear just how much Drake was holding inside while we were working together,” Sullivan wrote. “I was both devastated and proud seeing the man he’s grown into sit down on camera and bravely tell his truth. Past abuse doesn’t define us, and it has no right to rule our lives, I know that putting this burden down will free him in so many ways. I hope memories of the joy he had on our shows will someday greatly overshadow the pain. Sending love to Drake for a deep healing and for a rich and beautiful life ahead.”
The show’s creator, Dan Schneider, who has faced longtime toxicity allegations and is frequently implicated in the docuseries, issued a video apology this week and briefly spoke about Bell’s abuse. “When Drake and I talked and he told me about what had happened, I was more devastated by that than anything that ever happened to me in my career thus far,” Schneider said. “And I told him, ‘I’m here for you.'”
In a statement to Deadline, Nickelodeon previously acknowledged the abuse claims made by Bell. “Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity as the plaintiff in the 2004 case, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured, and we commend and support the strength required to come forward,” the network said.
More Great Stories from Vanity Fair
- Alleged Abuse and Misconduct at Kids’ Network Nickelodeon
- Reactions to the Biggest Bombshells
- Drake Bell’s Sexual Abuse Allegations
- Rocky Offscreen Relationship Between Drake Bell and Josh Peck
- Toxicity Allegations Against Dan Schneider
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
The article discusses allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct in the entertainment industry, specifically at Nickelodeon. These issues are connected to SDG 3, as they involve the well-being and mental health of the individuals who experienced abuse. SDG 5 is relevant because the article mentions the importance of protecting children and addressing abuse in order to achieve gender equality. SDG 10 is connected to the article’s content as it focuses on reducing inequalities, including the power dynamics and abuse of power that can occur in the entertainment industry. Lastly, SDG 16 is relevant because it emphasizes the importance of strong institutions and justice systems in addressing and preventing abuse.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (Target 3.4), eliminating violence against women and girls (Target 5.2), promoting social inclusion and reducing inequalities (Target 10.2), and ending abuse and violence against children (Target 16.2).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease.
- Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.
- Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and disability.
- Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.
The article does not explicitly mention indicators related to the identified targets. However, indicators such as mortality rates from non-communicable diseases (Indicator 3.4.1), prevalence of violence against women (Indicator 5.2.1), income inequality (Indicator 10.2.1), and the number of victims of human trafficking (Indicator 16.2.2) can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. | Indicator 3.4.1: Mortality rate attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age, sex, and disability. |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. | Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: vanityfair.com
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