Warning: This article discusses sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
Drake & Josh star Josh Peck has broken his silence after his old co-star Drake Bell revealed he was sexually assaulted at the age of 15.
The pair worked together on the popular Nickelodeon show between the years of 2004-2007.
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Prior to his involvement with Drake & Josh, dialogue coach Brian Peck - who has no relation to Josh - was arrested on charges of child sexual abuse.
The identity of the child actor who was abused by Peck was not released, with the minor referred to John Doe in court documents.
That all changed this week though, with Drake coming forward to confirm he was the minor involved in the case on the Investigation Discovery documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.
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In May 2004, Brian Peck pleaded no contest to performing a lewd act with a 14-or-15-year-old, and to oral copulation with a minor under 16.
He was ultimately sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender in October 2004.
On the Investigation Discovery show, Drake discussed going to the courthouse while Brian Peck was being sentenced.
He recalled spotting some 'recognizable faces' present to show their support for the coach.
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Since Drake revealed his version of events, many have been surprised at the apparent silence from Josh, his long time co-star.
Drake addressed the criticism aimed at Josh, saying in a recent TikTok video: "I just want to clear something up. I’ve noticed a lot of comments on some of Josh’s TikToks and some of his posts and I just want to let you guys know that processing this and going through this is a really emotional time and a lot of it is very, very difficult."
Drake went on to reveal his former co-star had reached out to him privately, saying: "So not everything is put out to the public, but I just want you guys to know that he [Josh] has reached out to me, and it’s been very sensitive.
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"But he has reached out to talk with me and help me work through this and has been really, really great. So I just wanted to let you guys know that and to take it a little easy on him.”
Now, Josh has issued a public statement following criticism directed his way.
Taking to Instagram, the actor penned: "I finished the Quiet On Set documentary and took a few days to process it.
"I reached out to Drake privately, but wanted to give my support for the survivors who were brave enough to share their stories of emotional and physical abuse on Nickelodeon sets with the world."
Josh concluded: "Children should be protected. Reliving this publicly is incredibly difficult, but I hope it can bring healing for the victims and their families as well as necessary change to our industry."
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Sexual Abuse, Crime, Instagram