Understanding and Addressing Child Abuse: Lessons from “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”
For several years, allegations of child abuse have emerged from actors from well-known networks such as Nickelodeon and Disney Chanel. In her 2022 memoir, Jennett McCurdy, who played Sam Puckett on iCarly and Sam & Cat, alleged that Nickelodeon offered her a $300,000 payout to keep quiet about questionable treatment of her and other stars. Most recently, a 4-part documentary series called Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV features several childhood stars and Nickelodeon employees who recount the inappropriate working conditions. Specifically, Drake Bell of Drake and Josh talks openly about the abuse he experienced during his time as a childhood star.
As we recognize Child Abuse Awareness Month, it is important to examine the role we, as a society, play in enabling opportunities for abuse.
Recognizing the Signs of Child Abuse:
The documentary underscores the importance of recognizing the signs of child abuse, which can manifest in various forms including physical, emotional, sexual, neglect, and even human trafficking of minors. The documentary begins with numerous examples of Dan Schneider suggesting, encouraging, or even forcing children on his shows to participate in sexually explicit jokes or scenes. Some examples of sexual innuendo see on these shows include:
- Forcing a young, Leon Frierson, to play “Nose Guy” on then Amanda show in which he was forced to have a giant “nose” affixed to his face and two “noses” that clearly resemble male genitalia affixed to his shirt.
- On Zoey 101, actress Alexa Nikolas, was asked to bite into a jelly pop that ultimately squirts onto Jamey Lynn Spears’ face. Nikolas says that she did not realize the sexual encounter this scene resembled until she was an adult herself.
- Throughout the shows Schneider produced, he commonly integrated scenes featuring the feet of child actors as well as scenes of kids eating pickles or handling long potatoes all to resemble sexual acts.
While Dan Scheider has never been charged with any form of child abuse, the sexualization of children is a major step in grooming tactics used by perpetrators. Arguably, many adults who worked for Nickelodeon, as well as those viewing the shows, knew that many of the scenes and scenarios were at best inappropriate, and at worst, predatory.
Since the documentary aired in March, Dan Schneider issued an apology for his actions on a recent podcast episode. View the podcast episode below:
Do you think his apology was sufficient?
Understanding the Dynamics of Grooming:
One of the most insidious aspects of child abuse is grooming, a process in which perpetrators manipulate and exploit children for their own gratification. “Quiet on Set” sheds light on classic grooming tactics employed by abusers, such as befriending, fulfilling emotional needs, and gradually isolating victims from trusted adults. The most glaring example of clear grooming in the documentary presents itself when Drake Bell opens up about the abuse he experienced at the hands of his dialogue coach, Brian Peck. Here are some of the tactics Peck used to groom Drake Bell when he was a young actor.
1. Targeted Drake
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- Honestly, we may never know why Peck targeted Drake, and one of the most horrifying realizations is that any child could become a target of predators.
2. Befriended Drake.
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- Brian Peck pretended to take interest in anything Drake was interested in. Not only would he show up at Drake’s band performances that were quite far from Peck’s house, but he also knew things like Drake loved Disney so he would take him to full days at Disneyland. Drake says “He had pretty much worked his way into every aspect of my life” in reference to how much time he was spending with Peck.
3. Gained Trust
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- In the situation of Drake Bell, Brian Peck had to gain the trust of Drake’s mom so that she would allow him to be alone with Peck on a regular basis. He did this by first meeting with Drake as his dialogue coach in Drake’s home, then offering to drive him back and forth to LA for work, and even threw Drake a big birthday part as a teen.
4. Fulfilled a Need
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- Drake’s “need” was multifaceted, he needed someone with industry experience to help him navigate the work of child acting AND he needed someone to logistically drive him back and forth from his home in Orange County California to Los Angeles for work. Brian Peck made himself available to “help” Drake and his family over a long period of time.
“I realized it was all so calculated, you got, you moved all pieces into place. The whole thing was mental manipulation” -Drake Bell
5. Isolated Drake
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- Drake’s dad was always wary of Brian Peck and even told Drake’s mother to “never leave Drake alone with Peck” which threatened Peck’s long term goal of abuse. With this in mind, Brian worked to isolate Drake from his father and ultimately convinced Drake to say he didn’t want him to be his manager anymore. At that point, Drake moved in with his mother and that is when Peck gained unsupervised access to Drake.
6. Capitalization with Drake
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- Brian Peck ultimately went on to sexually assault Drake Bell repeatedly when Drake was a teen. He went on to be arrested for 11 counts of Child Sexual Abuse and was convicted of “lewd acts with a minor” and sentenced to 16 months in prison in 2004.
“I often look back at that time and wonder how in the world I survived.” -Drake Bell
By understanding the tactics used by predators, we can better equip ourselves to recognize and intervene in grooming situations like the one Drake Bell experienced as a teenager.
Importance of Speaking Out and Seeking Help:
A crucial takeaway from the documentary is the importance of speaking out against child abuse and seeking help for victims. The bravery of individuals who come forward with their experiences, as demonstrated by figures like Drake Bell, serves as a powerful reminder that silence only perpetuates the cycle of abuse. It’s essential for victims to know that they are not alone and that there are resources available, including hotlines, counselors, and support groups, to assist them in their journey toward healing and justice. I encourage you to watch the documentary to learn how Drake’s girlfriend’s mother stepped in to help him, but I can’t give the ENTIRE documentary away.
Holding Perpetrators Accountable:
The documentary highlights the necessity of holding perpetrators of child abuse accountable for their actions. Despite the challenges and complexities involved in prosecuting abusers, it’s essential for society to prioritize the safety and well-being of children by pursuing justice and imposing appropriate consequences for perpetrators. By sending a clear message that child abuse will not be tolerated, we can work towards creating safer environments for children to thrive.
Promoting Prevention and Education:
Ultimately, preventing child abuse requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses education, awareness, and proactive intervention. Educating children about personal boundaries, safe touch, and consent empowers them to recognize and resist abusive behaviors. Likewise, providing training and resources for adults, including parents, educators, and caregivers, equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect children from harm. Crime Stoppers of Houston has been offering prevention education since 2013 and we would love to speak to you and your community about preventing child abuse.
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV serves as a sobering reminder of the pervasive nature of child abuse and the urgent need for action. By recognizing the signs of abuse, understanding grooming dynamics, speaking out against abuse, holding perpetrators accountable, and promoting prevention and education, we can collectively work towards creating a safer and more nurturing environment for all children. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children and break the cycle of abuse. So, I leave you with these questions to grapple with:
How much responsibility do you think we have to speak up when we see potentially predatory behaviors?
What keeps us from doing so?
Is simply not supporting companies who display predatory behaviors enough?
Posted by on 5 Apr 2024