Drake Bell Asks Fans to 'Take It a Little Easy' on Josh Peck and Reveals He 'Reached Out' amid Abuse Allegations

Mar. 15, 2025

Josh Peck (left) and Drake Bell.Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Drake Bellis speaking out in defense ofJosh Peckamid his abuse allegations.

In a video posted toTikTokon Wednesday, Bell addressed his followers and revealed that his formerDrake and Joshcostar had contacted him in response to his recent forthcomings aboutsuffering sexual abuseas a child actor at the hands of a Nickelodeon dialogue coachBrian Peck(to whom Josh has no relation).

“Processing this and going through this is a really emotional time,” the “Found a Way” singer, 37, explained in the video. “A lot of it is very difficult so not everything is put out to the public. But I just wanted to let you guys know that [Josh] has reached out to me and it’s been very sensitive."

“But he has reached out to talk with me and help me work through this and he’s been really great,” he added.

On Monday, theHow I Met Your Fatheralum received backlash from fans afterposting a videoto the platform where he mouthed the words to a viral sound. Josh, 37, could be seen lip-syncing the words, “If I haven’t talked to you since 2023, take that as a f––king sign that you don’t exist to me anymore.”

Drake Bell (left) and Josh Peck on ‘Drake and Josh’.Reed Saxon/AP

Reed Saxon/AP

“The clip reveals that former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell will be sharing publicly, for the first time, the story of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Brian Peck, his former dialogue coach who was convicted in 2004 for his crimes against Drake and ordered to register as a sex offender,” Warner Bros. Discovery said in a press release shared with PEOPLE.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In 2004, in connection with Bell’s case, Brian pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 as well as a charge of performing a lewd act with a teenager. Bell’s identity as the victim was not made public as he was a minor at the time. Brian spent 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com