Drake Bell Opens Up About Dealing With Sexual Abuse From Ex-Acting Coach Through 2005 Song “In The End”

Drake Bell has unveiled a deeply personal chapter of his life, revealing how he turned his pain into music long before publicly disclosing his experience as a survivor of sexual assault.

In a heartfelt TikTok shared recently, the 37-year-old artist opened up about his song In the End, featured on his 2005 debut album Telegraph. He disclosed that the song was penned at the tender age of 15, serving as a cathartic outlet for the turmoil he was facing.

“Wrote this song when I was 15 about what happened before I said anything to anyone,” he shared.

Co-written with Michael Corcoran, In the End initially begins as a poignant ballad before blossoming into an uplifting anthem. Through soul-stirring verses and a powerful chorus, Drake reflects on themes of strength, resilience, and the journey toward healing.

The lyrics of the song reads in part, “Wake up / It’s time to get your things together and drive away / Breathe out, future days will treat you better / That’s what they say / Another day gone without a say / But it’s OK if you turn [around].”

“And in the end, are you stronger? (Are you stronger?) / Do you no longer need to recover? / And where have you been since it’s been over? (Since it’s been over) / Over my shoulder, under my skin, will you ever return again?” another part of the lyrics reads.

“Wake up / The monsters in your head have left you / All to yourself, it’s alright / If ugly little things remind you of how it felt / Another day, no one tells you what it means / What’s in your way and poisonin’ your dreams / The darkest place that you’ve ever been,” Drake sings further.

Drake revisited In the End after publicly acknowledging the abuse he endured from his former acting coach, Brian Peck, during his time as a child actor on Nickelodeon. Brian’s conviction in 2004 for sexual offenses against Bell marked a pivotal moment in the singer’s life.

Recently, Drake released a poignant single titled I Kind of Relate, accompanied by a music video that mirrors his journey of confronting trauma and reclaiming his narrative. 

The caption for the music video posted to Youtube read, “This song was inspired by my past and now that my story is being told I felt the time was right to share it.”

In an interview on The Sarah Fraser Show podcast, Drake shared insights into his decision to share his story in the documentary series Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV. Supported by the project’s directors, Drake found solace in speaking his truth, ultimately finding liberation in confronting his past.

Despite initial apprehensions, the singer recognized the significance of sharing his story and the profound sense of catharsis it provided. Recalling the moments leading up to his revelation, he said, “Once I got out, I thought to myself, ‘You know, maybe this is a good time to reach out to them, and say I’m not 100% yet, let’s talk some more but I’m getting closer to feeling comfortable with finally sharing my story.’ Even though I was battling with, ‘Oh my gosh, what am I doing telling my story? Should I be doing this?’ [But I was getting this feeling of] ‘Wow it’s all out there now. I can get it off my chest.’”