Drake Bell says he checked into rehab before detailing sexual abuse in docuseries

Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell talked about the dark side of the Kids TV, which he was victim of when he was working with Nickelodeon dialogue and acting coach Brian Peck. Bell has openly talked about being sexually assaulted by Brian Peck on the docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.

After the release of the four-part docuseries, the 37-year-old actor talked about why he chose to share his side of the story, and how initially he refused to be part of the series and even checked himself into rehab beforedetailing sexual abuse in the docuseries

Speaking at The Sarah Fraser Show, the actor revealed that due to his past experience when he declined to participate in the other documentaries, the actor said that he became more cautious.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Recalling the response he got once when he declined a documentary offer, Bell explained, “They said that people like me were the problem, and this is why things aren’t gonna change in the industry because people like you won’t speak out and won’t come forward. It was just all this shaming of me not wanting to be a part of their documentary. So I’ve always been cautious and on-edge whenever approached to talk about such a sensitive topic.”

However, the story turned out to be different when it came to Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, as the actor revealed that he kind of bonded with the director Emma Schwartz, and how he was comfortablewhile sharing his story with Emma.

Like many times before, the actor said that this time also he was hesitant before taking part in this docuseries. However, the story turned different.

It’s Ye, not Kanye West! The rapper wants music industry to stop using his ‘slave name’

Recalling his meeting with the director, he said, “She was very sensitive, and we kind of became buddies before [I agreed to participate],” Bell said. “I could tell that she was coming from a genuine place when we started our back-and-forth, and it wasn’t of an angle of, ‘OK, what do I have to say to get him involved? And I’ll just say what I have to say to convince him.’ I really felt a comfort with her. And so I said, ‘You know if you’re willing to come out to L.A. and sit down, at least I’ll meet with you.'”

The actor further revealed that he checked into rehab after his first meeting with the director.

Kate Middleton, Prince William ‘touched’ by support received after her cancer diagnosis: Palace

“Your entire day was filled with working through and processing this with a clear mind and unearthing all of these things that I hadn’t faced head-on, or if I had tried to, it was too painful,” he said.

“And so through that process, once I got out, I thought to myself, ‘Maybe this is a good time to reach back out to them and say, hey, I’m not 100 per cent yet, let’s talk some more, but I’m getting closer to feeling comfortable with finally sharing my story.'”

Not just Bell, but his father has also suffered a lot. So, when it comes to involving him in the series, the actor said that it was beneficial for him to do it, “My dad is a very emotional guy, and he has such a big heart, and I was very cautious about involving him,” Bell said before adding, “maybe it would be cathartic and beneficial for my dad to be able to do [it as well].”

He added, tearing up, “I’m sure that my dad puts a lot of blame on himself, you know? And I thought that this might be an opportunity for him to realize that, you know, that it’s one person’s fault.”

Bell was sexually assaulted by Brian Peck, who worked with the actor on The Amanda Show. Under several sexual abuse allegations, Brian Peck was arrested in August 2003. However, he pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a 14or 15-year-old and to oral copulation with a minor under 16.