Former child star Drake Bell has called out fellow actors Will Friedle and Rider Strong for defending his abuser, Brian Peck. Bell responded to fans claiming that Friedle and Strong were also victims, stating that they were aware of Peck’s crimes when they wrote letters in support of him.
Bell accused Friedle of not apologizing to him despite working together after the court case, and believes that Friedle and Strong discussed the letters on their podcast to get ahead of the story.
In a docuseries, Bell detailed the abuse he allegedly experienced at the hands of Peck, whom he met on “The Amanda Show.” Bell claimed that Peck began molesting him when he was just 15 years old, and the abuse continued over time.
Bell finally reported the abuse to his mother after Peck allegedly tried to get a part on “Drake & Josh.” Peck was arrested in 2003, convicted in 2004, and served 16 months in jail for charges including sodomy and lewd acts against a child.
Despite his conviction, Peck returned to working on kids’ shows after his release. Investigation Discovery’s upcoming series “Quiet on the Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will discuss Peck’s crimes and Bell’s allegations. This case sheds light on the difficulties faced by child actors and the importance of holding abusers accountable in the entertainment industry. Stay tuned to “Poh Diaries” for more updates on this developing story.
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