Trigger warning : This article discusses sexual abuse.
The new documentary " Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Children's TV" exposes the alleged misconduct that goes on behind the scenes at many Nickelodeon shows, and some of the network's former stars are now speaking out.
On March 21, Josh Peck responded to the Quiet Set revelations, specifically from his Drake & Josh and The Amanda Show co-star Dre K. Bell's revelations.
In the four-part documentary, Bell claims to have been a victim of his former dialogue coach Brian Pike (no relation to Josh), who was arrested in 2003 on child molestation charges. Brian was convicted of child molestation and oral copulation with a person under 16 and served 16 months in prison. (Bell’s identity has been kept secret during the case.)
Josh Peck connects with Drake Bell
Three days after the docuseries premiered, Peck responded on Instagram.
“I finished the ‘Quiet on Set’ documentary and spent a few days working on it,” he wrote. "I reached out to Drake privately, but I wanted to offer support to the survivors who bravely shared their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon with the world. Children deserve to be protected."
Peck ended his remarks by acknowledging how "incredibly difficult" it must have been for those who came forward. "I hope it brings healing to the victims and their families and necessary changes to our industry," he wrote.
Peck's post comes after Bale asked viewers not to follow his former costar on social media. "It's a very sensitive matter, but it was really, really nice that he took the initiative to talk to me and help me work through it," Bell said on TikTok. "So I just wanted to let you guys know that and put him at ease a little bit. ”
Who else has spoken out?
Peck isn't Bale's only co-star to support him. A day earlier, Nancy Sullivan, who stars with Bell on "The Amanda Show" and "Drake & Josh," penned a touching Instagram post praising her on-screen son.
"They are not my real children but I will always love them," she wrote, sharing a throwback snap of Bear. "When we worked together, it broke my heart into a million pieces to hear how much emotion was inside of Drake. Seeing him grow up and sit in front of the camera and bravely speak his truth was so rewarding. Shocked and proud.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org.
