Famous comedian Russell Brand was accused of rape, assault, and emotional harm over the course of seven years.
The Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches worked together to find out about these claims. Four women say Russell Brand did bad things to them between 2006 and 2013. Brand says he didn’t do anything wrong and that he always had agreements with the people he was with. At that time, Brand was doing important jobs like working at BBC Radio 2, Channel 4, and acting in big Hollywood movies.
Who is Russell Brand?
The investigation also talks about how Brand may have been controlling, mean, and predatory. The Sunday Times wrote about it, and a TV show called ‘Russell Brand: In Plain Sight’ on Channel 4 talked about it too. Soon after the bad things were written about him, Brand did a comedy show at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London. He performed for about an hour and mentioned the accusations, but didn’t talk about them directly. He said there were things he wished he could talk about, but couldn’t.
Many women have accused Russell Brand in this investigation. Four of them say he did sexual things to them.
One woman says he forced her to have sex against a wall in his house in Los Angeles. She got help at a special place for people who had been hurt on the same day. The Times newspaper saw records from the doctor to prove this.
Another woman says Brand hurt her when he was around 30 and she was only 16 and still in school. She says he treated her really badly and controlled her.
A third woman says Brand did sexual things to her while they worked together in Los Angeles. She says he warned her not to tell anyone, or he would take her to court.
The fourth woman says Brand did sexual things to her and also treated her badly in other ways.
On Friday, Russell Brand made a video where he said he didn’t do any really bad things that he’s about to be accused of. He said he got letters from a TV company and a newspaper that were full of very mean things.
“In a video shared on YouTube and X (previously known as Twitter), Russell Brand talked about the accusations. He said there were many strange and serious things said about him, and he strongly denies the very serious claims.
He explained that these claims are from a time when he was famous and talked about a lot in the news and movies. He also mentioned that he had many relationships back then, but they were always by mutual agreement.
Brand believes this might be a planned attack on him, and he takes it very seriously. He mentioned he would look into it.
The police are aware of the reports in the media about these allegations, but no one has officially reported anything yet. They encouraged anyone who feels they’ve been a victim of such a situation, no matter how long ago, to talk to them.
The Sunday Times said the women spoke up after being approached by reporters. They felt it was important to do so because Brand is now known for his online wellness influence. These women, who don’t know each other, have chosen to keep their identities private.
The Sunday Times gave Brand eight days to respond to the detailed claims. When he was given another chance to reply, he made a video and shared it on his YouTube channel.
“One lady said she was 16 when she first met Brand and feels he acted like someone who tries to manipulate and control, but she didn’t realize it back then.
Another lady told the newspaper that during a sexual assault, she told Brand multiple times to stop, but when he finally did, he got really angry.
A different lady claimed that Brand forced her against a wall and did something bad to her without protection. She said he tried to keep her from leaving until she said she had to go to the bathroom. She ran out, got in her car, and drove away, feeling lucky she didn’t park in his driveway.
Brand has hosted shows on channels like Channel 4, MTV, Radio X, and the BBC. He started as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s, and later became well-known as the host of a show called Big Brother’s Big Mouth.
After becoming famous, Brand acted in Hollywood movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek, and Arthur.
The lady, who was 16 when she met Brand, told her story to his literary agent, Angharad Wood, in 2020. Wood is part of a company called Tavistock Wood, owned by Curtis Brown.
Tavistock Wood told the BBC that in 2020, Brand strongly denied the accusation, but now they believe he was not truthful. They have ended all professional connections with Brand.
A spokesperson from Channel 4 said they were very upset to hear about the troubling allegations, especially those related to shows made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007. They are determined to find out exactly what happened. They checked their records but didn’t find any proof that these incidents were reported to Channel 4. They will keep looking into it and want the company that made the shows to properly investigate and report their findings.
They mentioned that there have been big changes in Channel 4’s leadership recently, and they’re committed to making sure TV is safe and welcoming for everyone.
The situation with the 16-year-old happened when Brand worked at BBC Radio 6 Music. It’s claimed that he would undress in the studio. Dispatches also said he made inappropriate comments on air about a newsreader, and later hinted that BBC staff told him to apologize.
According to The Times, sources say a complaint was made to BBC management about Brand’s aggressive and disrespectful behavior.
A BBC spokesperson explained that Russell Brand worked for different organizations, including the BBC. Brand left the BBC in 2008 after a serious issue with how he handled content. They reviewed the situation carefully at the time. The BBC takes such matters seriously and is willing to take action.
Over the years, the BBC has improved how it handles talent and addresses complaints. They have clear rules about how people should behave at work, which are written in contracts and policies. They’re always ready to listen if someone comes forward with concerns about anyone, past or present, at the BBC.
SOURCE: BBC