Drake Bell Gratefully Recalls How Josh Peck Supported Him During Quiet On-Set Moment
Drake Bell Describes How Brian Peck Got Him Alone
Bell explained how Peck deliberately created a divide between him and his father, Joe Bell (who also featured in the ID series and supported his son’s story), in order to spend more time with the young actor. Bell had a recurring role on The Amanda Show before landing his own sitcom, Drake & Josh, in 2004.
Peck would take Bell to auditions and then insist he stay over, claiming it was too late to travel back home. One night, Bell woke up on the couch where he usually slept, only to find Peck sexually assaulting him.
“I was paralyzed with shock and had no idea how to react,” Bell recounted. “I felt trapped and didn’t know how to escape the situation.”
Although Peck apologized afterwards, the abuse continued, and Bell kept silent. Even when his then-girlfriend’s mother sensed something was amiss and took him to a therapist, Bell remained quiet, fearing repercussions on his career if he spoke out.
Eventually, Bell confided in his mother, who promptly contacted the authorities. Bell provided a detailed account of the abuse to detectives, who then orchestrated a phone call with Peck to elicit a confession. Peck admitted to his actions during the call, leading to his arrest on Aug. 20, 2003.