In a surprising turn of events, Janet Von Schmeling, soon-to-be ex-wife of former child star Drake Bell, has made her relationship with her new boyfriend, Jim Perez, Instagram official. The revelation came on National Boyfriend Day when Von Schmeling took to her Instagram Story to share a picture of her and Perez, dressed to the nines, in a mirror selfie.
This public debut of her new romance marks a significant step forward for Von Schmeling, who filed for divorce from Drake Bell just six months ago, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple had been married for four years and has a son together, named Jeremy Drake Bell.
In her divorce filing, Von Schmeling requested primary legal and physical custody of Jeremy, with visitation rights for Bell, along with spousal support. This development follows a tumultuous period for Bell, who was reported missing in Daytona Beach, Florida, just a week before Von Schmeling initiated the divorce proceedings.
Moreover, Drake Bell has faced legal troubles, with a 2021 guilty plea to child endangerment accusations and disseminating harmful material to minors, resulting in a two-year probation sentence. Bell addressed these allegations on his Instagram, emphasizing that they were related to text messages and that he opted for a plea deal to expedite resolution and return to making music.
Bell, who gained fame from his role in Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh” from 2004 to 2007, had also faced allegations of abuse from his former girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt, allegations he vehemently denied.