In the video, Lingafelt, who uses the stage name Jimi Ono on her TikTok account, alleged Wednesday (August 12) that Bell verbally and physically abused her when they dated and lived together more than a decade ago.
A representative for Bell gave the following statement to Variety and People, saying he never abused Lingafelt and is reviewing his legal options: “I never abused my ex-girlfriend or did so many of the other things Melissa falsely claimed on her TikTok video. As our relationship ended — more than a decade ago — we, unfortunately, both called each other terrible names, as often happens when couples are breaking up. But that is it. Clearly, Melissa still felt close enough to me just last year that she was comfortable reaching out to ask me to provide her with financial support during a tough time (which I did). I do not know if today’s behavior is some kind of misguided quest for more money or attention. But I cannot and will not allow these offensive and defamatory allegations to go unchallenged and I am reviewing my legal options.”
Lingafelt, who dated the Nickelodeon alum in 2006 for around 2 years, began her video by saying:
In her video Wednesday, Lingafelt said: “First, I would like to start out with saying I don’t really care if anyone believes me as this is my story and my life and something I went through. It wasn’t until recently that I actually realized that abuse is something that all women have to go through. When I started dating Drake, I was 16. I was home-schooled, I moved in with him, I was singing. It wasn’t until about a year when the verbal abuse started. And when I say verbal abuse, imagine the worst type of verbal abuse you could ever imagine, and that was what I got. It then turned into physical — hitting, throwing, everything. At the pinnacle of it, he drug me down the stairs of our house in Los Feliz. My face hit every step on the way down. I have photos of this.”
Bell, 34, is best known for his work on the Nickelodeon shows The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He also appeared in an episode of Seinfeld.
Lingafelt also said, “I don’t event want to get into the underage girls thing. I mean I will, but I’m scared.”
In the video, Lingafelt shared several red carpet photos and home photos of herself and Bell. At the end, she also flipped through a photo album of them and showed a box of pictures.
In two more TikTok videos, Lingafelt shared screenshots of direct message conversations that she said she received from others after posting her story. In one of those messages, the writer — whose name was covered up — accused Bell of having sex with a 15-year-old when he was 20.
On Instagram, the former Miss Teen USA competitor said friends of hers at the time were aware of the abuse she says she suffered at the hands of Bell.
"Everyone that really knows me and has been a friend of mine for the past 15 years, knows all too well of the abuse that Drake Bell put me through," she wrote. "I have so many witnesses, I have photos, it was my life. If you don't believe me, it is clear to me what kind of person you are, and I don't need that on my side."
"Nobody wants attention from abuse!!!!!!!" she continued. "I hope this gives girls the strength to come out about their experiences with him, because I know for a fact he has hundreds of victims."
Updates:
8/21 - Drake Bell's ex-girlfriend shares police report and journal entries that she claims PROVE the actor was 'abusive' and 'kicked, choked, and slapped' her when they dated over a decade ago
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Originally published: Friday, August 14, 2020.
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