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Drake Bell, a former child actor known for his role on the Nickelodeon show “Drake & Josh,” has accused the network of not compensating its stars adequately.
Bell, 39, revealed that he and his co-star Josh Peck never received residuals for their work on the show, which aired for three years on Nickelodeon before concluding in 2007.
The actor, who previously shared allegations of mistreatment he experienced while working with Nickelodeon, discussed a common misconception in the entertainment industry.
“The perception is that if you appear in a Folgers Coffee commercial, you must be living in a mansion in Hollywood. People see you on TV and assume you’re wealthy,” Bell stated during an interview on “The Unplanned Podcast.”
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“Drake & Josh” star, Drake Bell, claimed Nickelodeon stars aren’t paid residuals for their work. (Michael Bezjian)
“That’s far from the truth. Especially with Nickelodeon, we don’t receive residuals for our shows,” Bell added.
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Bell pointed out that most networks provide actors with residuals for continued use of their work, but Nickelodeon only offers a one-time payment to its actors.
When asked if the network might be taking advantage of young stars, Bell responded, “Keep exploring that. Keep trying to understand.”
“There are many corrupt individuals… that’s the reality,” Bell stated. “They subject us to mental and emotional abuse, only to discard us. And we’re left thinking, ‘Okay, I need to pay my rent this month.'”
Drake Bell and Josh Peck starred on the popular sitcom for three years. (Getty Images)
The show, which spawned TV movies, video games, and books, continues to have a strong following, according to Bell.
“Three channels are airing ‘Drake & Josh’ marathons. Netflix recently acquired it, and it’s in the top 10 on Netflix. Meanwhile, I’m struggling to make ends meet,” Bell shared. “And some wealthy executive at Viacom is profiting off our hard work… It’s akin to exploiting child labor.”
He continued, “We put in all this effort. The corporation is raking in billions, and we’re only compensated for a week of work. And according to the contract, we won’t receive further compensation, even if the show is broadcast across galaxies and planets.”
“If Elon [Musk] colonizes Mars and airs ‘Drake & Josh,’ I won’t get paid for it,” Bell added.
Nickelodeon representatives did not respond immediately to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
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The documentary “Quiet on Set” debuted in March 2024, shedding light on Dan Schneider’s tenure at Nickelodeon. Schneider, a showrunner, was accused of fostering a toxic work environment, mistreating female writers on staff, and making inappropriate requests from employees.
Dan Schneider was the focus of the “Quiet on Set” documentary released in 2024. (Charley Gallay)
The most shocking revelation in the documentary came from Bell, who detailed allegations of sexual abuse involving Brian Peck, an actor and dialogue coach hired by Nickelodeon.
Bell recounted the day when the situation escalated from uncomfortable to abusive.
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“I woke up to find him sexually assaulting me. I was shocked and didn’t know how to react,” Bell described the incident. “I was 15 at the time and felt completely helpless. The abuse was severe, and I’m at a loss for words to elaborate further.”
Bell accused voice coach Brian Peck of sexual abuse in the “Quiet on Set” documentary about child stars in the entertainment industry. (Christopher Polk)
When asked about what he was comfortable discussing, Bell replied, “Think of the worst forms of sexual assault, and that’s what I experienced. It wasn’t a one-time incident.”
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Nickelodeon released a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the allegations from past productions.
“While we cannot confirm or deny claims from decades ago, Nickelodeon takes all complaints seriously as part of our commitment to providing a safe and professional work environment free of harassment,” the statement read. “Our priority is the well-being of our employees, casts, crews, and all children, and we have implemented various measures over the years to uphold our high standards and meet audience expectations.”
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