In addition to corroborating allegations of Drake Bell's predatory behavior, his ex, Melissa Lingafelt, has claimed that he violently abused her. In a since-deleted 2020 TikTok video, Lingafelt claimed that a 20-year-old Bell preyed on her when she was just 16 years old. "Imagine the worst type of verbal abuse you could ever imagine, and that was what I got," she said, before going into graphic detail regarding the physical abuse Bell allegedly inflicted upon her on a regular basis.
After posting the video, Lingafelt was contacted by several other young women — including one whose friend was just 15 when she allegedly began a relationship with Bell — who claimed that he groomed and abused them. As The Daily Beast reports, a number of women accused Bell of both physical and sexual assault, with one TikTok user claiming that she was in eighth grade when he allegedly raped her. Lingafelt told the outlet that she felt horrified by the barrage of successive abuse claims. She also went into further detail regarding the alleged domestic violence, claiming that Bell once used hot water in an attempt to burn her after she supposedly spent too long shopping.
In a statement to Variety, Bell vehemently denied ever being an abuser. "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," he said, going on to suggest that his ex was motivated by greed or a need for attention.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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