Drake Bell, from Nickelodeon's 'Drake and Josh', Threatened Televisa with a Lawsuit Over 'La Casa de los Famosos'

In a bombshell revelation, Mexican TV host Galilea Montijo on the reality show 'La Casa de los Famosos México,' claimed that 'Drake & Josh' actor Drake Bell threatened to sue the production after comments made on the show stirred controversy.

During a live broadcast of the Televisa morning show 'Hoy,' Montijo told viewers that Bell had contacted the production team demanding the removal of certain segments that referenced a story shared by Mexican actress Mariana Botas.

"It turns out that little Bell called very angry, threatening that if they didn't take down that information, 'I'll see you in court,'" Montijo recounted during an episode of the morning talk show.

According to Montijo, the situation surprised her and her co-hosts, who remember Bell, best known for his Nickelodeon fame, as a polite guest during previous visits to Mexican media. With a hint of irony, she added, "Very angry... Strange, because he's very nice, I don't know why he was upset."

The controversy stems from a revelation by Botas during 'La Casa de los Famosos México.' Botas alleged that she had shared a romantic moment with Bell years ago. While she framed it as a light anecdote, the segment quickly went viral, triggering Bell's reported anger and his alleged legal threats.

Bell's response

Following the viral spread of the story, several media outlets caught up with Drake Bell while he was filming a music video in Mexico City. Asked about the incident, the actor responded in a lighthearted tone:

"She's a very good friend of mine..." Before jokingly stating that it was "a romantic kiss one night at the club, it was very romantic, the light was like this, I looked at her and very slowly, like a movie... I don't remember, I was in a club, I don't remember anything."

Bell, who has maintained a steady presence in Mexico in recent years, has appeared in various entertainment programs and collaborated with Latin artists. He even began adopting the stage name "Drake Campana" (Spanish for "Bell") and has released music in Spanish. On his "Drake & Josh" co-star, Josh Peck's podcast, Bell stated that he spends most of his time "in Mexico and Florida now." His growing connection to Mexican audiences, however, has not shielded him from controversy.

In 2021, the American actor and musician was sentenced to two years' probation and 200 hours of community service in Ohio after pleading guilty to charges related to endangering a minor. Bell claimed that he ceased communication with the minor once their age came to light and no sexual images were shared. He stated that he pleaded guilty because he "felt that this was the best way to get this over quickly, and for everyone involved to be able to move on."

Bell then relocated to Mexico for much of his career activity, performing concerts, making TV appearances, and embracing his popularity among fans in the country. He rose to attention again last year when he appeared in the five-part television documentary "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV," where Bell revealed that he was sexually abused by a dialogue coach when he was 15. Televisa has not issued an official statement regarding Montijo's comments or Bell's alleged legal threats.