Drake Bell's Accusers Are Getting the Amber Heard Treatment After 'Quiet on the Set'

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 28, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | March 28, 2024 |

In a polarized social media environment where everything is binary—good or evil and nothing in between—this outcome appeared inevitable. Last week on Quiet on the Set—MAX’s docuseries delving into the troubled behind-the-scenes events of the children’s television network—Drake & Josh star Drake Bell disclosed that he was a victim of sexual assault, a crime for which Nickelodeon’s Brian Peck served time in prison. Bell’s testimony was deeply affecting, leading much of the internet to overlook the allegations against Bell throughout the years.

To wit: Bell admitted guilt in 2021 to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating harmful material to a juvenile, stemming from a text relationship with a 15-year-old girl. The girl also accused Bell of grooming, sexually assaulting her, and sending sexually explicit messages, allegations that Bell has refuted. He contends he terminated the years-long relationship upon learning her age.

Additionally, in 2020, Bell faced accusations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt, also known as Jimi Ono, whom he dated for two years in 2006. Lingafelt alleged that Bell subjected her to severe verbal abuse, escalating to physical violence, including an incident where he dragged her down the stairs of their home, causing her face to hit each step. Lingafelt also accused Bell of targeting minors. He denied all the allegations.

Following the airing of Quiet on the Set, unfortunately, Bell’s fans — seemingly unable to grasp the concept of someone being both a perpetrator and a victim of sexual abuse — have launched attacks against Bell’s accusers, even identifying (and generating a search term for) an accuser whose name was not public. One TikTok video, with over 600,000 views, alleges that the minor stalked Bell and lied about her age, and that a court had sided with Bell (Bell pleaded guilty, so no court ruling refuted the allegations).

Likewise, Lingafelt has faced social media backlash for her allegations. She shared a harassing message calling her “disgusting” and accusing her of fabricating the claims for attention. In response, she posted on Instagram: “Sharing one’s personal experiences of abuse can be a complex and challenging process, and it can potentially help raise awareness about the prevalence of abuse and the need for support and healing. However, it’s crucial to remember that speaking out about one’s own experiences does not automatically absolve someone of the responsibility for their harmful behavior towards others.”

This pattern is all too familiar on the internet, echoing incidents involving Amber Heard. While what happened to Drake Bell is deeply upsetting, it does not justify his supporters’ online bullying of his accusers.

Via NBC, People, Instagram