Drake Bell Speaks Out on Upcoming Podcast, Says He 'Cannot Feel Trapped' After Childhood Abuse

The 'Drake & Josh' star opens up on an upcoming episode of the 'Luminosity' podcast, which premieres on April 11 at 9 a.m. ET

Drake Bell is opening up about how the sexual abuse he experienced while working as a child actor for Nickelodeon has affected him in the years since.

In PEOPLE's exclusive listen of the Thursday, April 11 episode of the Luminosity podcast, the 37-year-old Drake & Josh star shares that since addressing his sexual abuse at the hands of his former dialogue coach Brian Peck (no relation to his costar Josh Peck) while in rehab last year, he learned the underlying reason as to why he can't sit in ways that make him feel "trapped."

“I always have to have the aisle seat in the airplane,” Bell says in the upcoming episode. “Anytime I feel uncomfortable, I cannot feel trapped.”

He adds, “I think this comes back to my experience with Brian [Peck] at his house, I felt trapped… I always need an escape in any situation that makes me anxious and trapped.”

The Luminosty podcast is a mental health podcast hosted by Justin Crawford and actor-musician Kevin Quinn.

The Nickelodeon alum's comments follow his first public disclosure of his sexual assault experience in the Investigation Discovery docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which premiered on March 17.

Related: The Biggest Bombshells from 'Quiet on Set,' the Docuseries Alleging Toxic Culture on Nickelodeon Shows

Bell spoke out about being repeatedly sexually assaulted by Peck — who he met in 2000 while working on The Amanda Show — when he was 15. As the actor-singer shared in the docuseries, Peck befriended him and would invite him to his house for acting lessons.

After a rift developed between Bell and his father, Joe Bell — who managed Bell’s career and had raised suspicions about Peck’s behavior with production workers — Peck stepped into Bell’s life in a prominent role.

Peck would accompany Bell to acting auditions in Los Angeles, which were at least an hour away from where Bell lived with his mother. Due to the distance, Bell would frequently spend the night at Peck's house, but one night when he was 15, he said he woke up to Peck sexually assaulting him.

Related: Actor Drake Bell Was Sexually Assaulted by Nickelodeon Dialogue Coach: 'It Was Extensive and Brutal'

In 2004, Peck pleaded no contest to a charge of oral copulation with a minor under 16 and performing a lewd act with a 14- or 15-year-old in connection with the case. Bell's identity as the victim was not made public at the time since he was a minor. Peck was then sentenced to 16 months in prison and was mandated to register as a sex offender.

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As he shared in the docuseries, Bell says he began to drink heavily and use drugs in the aftermath of the abuse.

Related: A Timeline of Drake Bell's Career and Controversies

Quiet on Set goes inside the allegedly toxic and dangerous culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s. It also featured multiple interviews with former cast members, writers and crew from popular teen series like All That, The Amanda Show and Zoey 101.

According to the network, Quiet on Set was viewed by 16 million people and is now streaming on Max. The new episode of Luminosity podcast premieres April 11 at 9 a.m. ET on all podcast-streaming platforms.

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.

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