Drake Bell Discusses 2021 Child Endangerment Conviction and Denies Grooming Allegations
Drake Bell recently addressed his guilty plea for child endangerment in 2021, asserting that the accusations of grooming were unfounded. Get insights into Bell's perspective on the legal issues surrounding him.
Drake Bell Says 2021 Grooming Allegations Were Not True Very Regretful
Drake Bell Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
Drake Bell recently addressed the grooming allegations he encountered in 2021 on the "Not Skinny But Not Fat" podcast. The 37-year-old admitted to being irresponsible in responding to some direct messages and engaging in conversations that he should not have been a part of. He later discovered that he had been communicating with the wrong person, leading to false allegations and a significant escalation of the situation.
Bell was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service in California in connection to a December 2017 incident where he was accused of grooming and sexually abusing a minor. Despite initially pleading not guilty, he ultimately pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges in 2021.
He explained, "[I] ended up pleading guilty, because financially I was just devastated, and I had just had a son and I didn’t want to put my family through all of this anymore. I ended up going through the process the way that I did. Very regretful."
Bell claimed that he didn't know the girl was 15 years old. However, once he discovered her age, he stated that he stopped talking to her. He mentioned that the girl had attended a few of his concerts, but he tried to keep his distance.
He also stated, "Many of the things she mentioned, such as sending inappropriate pictures, were looked into and it was found that none of it was true."
Bell admitted to having conversations with the girl and took responsibility for his actions. He acknowledged making poor decisions in the past, which resulted in hurting others due to not having the necessary tools or knowledge to process things correctly. However, he shared that he is now in a better place in his life where he is actively going through therapy to address and confront these issues for the first time.
Bell made headlines once again in March for speaking out about experiencing sexual abuse by dialogue and acting coach Brian Peck while working on Nickelodeon. This revelation was featured in the Investigation Discovery documentary, Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids.
Following the documentary's release, Nickelodeon issued a statement addressing the situation. The network stated that while they could not confirm or deny the allegations from years ago, they take all formal complaints seriously. Nickelodeon emphasized their commitment to providing a safe and professional work environment, free from harassment and inappropriate behavior. The network's top priority is the well-being and best interests of their employees, casts, crew, and all children. Over the years, Nickelodeon has implemented various measures to uphold their high standards and meet the expectations of their audience.
The network expressed their support for Drake Bell after he revealed himself as the plaintiff in the 2004 case. They shared, "Now that Drake Bell has disclosed his identity, we are dismayed and saddened to learn of the trauma he has endured. We commend and support the strength required to come forward."
However, Bell felt dissatisfied with the network's response. During an interview on "The Sarah Fraser Show" podcast in March, he mentioned, "I find their responses pretty empty because, I mean, they still air our shows. I have to pay for my own therapy and figure things out. If they truly cared, there would be more than just quotes on a page from a legal representative telling them how to respond."
