Image shows Russell Brand speaking at a protest on Wall Street, NYC.

Content warning: This article contains details of sexual assault and rape.

Kara Hall

Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape and sexual assault in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

Four women are alleging that sexual assaults were perpetrated by Brand between 2006 and 2013, during the height of Brand’s fame.

In a released video, the actor categorically denied the “serious criminal allegations” made against him.

 

Who is Russell Brand?

Russel Brand surged to fame as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth (2005), and went on to feature across our television screens for much of the early 2000s. The comedian’s presenting gigs include MTV and Brit award shows, and he was also gifted his own debate series on E4.

Over the years, Brand has developed a cult following for his controversial views on politics and society. Brand’s self-proclaimed “sex addiction” and his past with illegal drugs contributed to much of his material during his comedy career.

 

The turning point in Brand’s television career was his 2008 scandal, dubbed Sachsgate. Whilst presenting his 2-hour show on Radio 2, Brand and Jonathan Ross, also a guest on the show, left Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs an offensive voicemail after he failed to appear on the show.

The contents of the voicemail included intimate details of Brand’s relationship with Sachs’ granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. In response to the recent allegations, Baillie stated that her relationship with Brand was consensual but that it “was very hard and painful” to see Brand profiting out of their relationship.

“Brand referred to her as “the child” during an emotionally abusive relationship.”

With enough complaints to fill up 10 semi-trucks, Brand left the station and Ross was handed a 12-week suspension from the BBC. OfCom also fined the BBC £150,000 for the phone calls.

Brand also faced public criticism for allegedly having a relationship with Bob Geldof’s daughter, Peaches, when she was 17 and Brand was 31.

What allegations have been made?

Four women came forward with allegations against Brand in partnership with an investigation published by the Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

One woman has alleged that Brand raped her without a condom against a wall in his Los Angeles home. The Times have confirmed with medical records that she was treated at a rape crisis centre later that same day.

A second woman alleged that Brand assaulted her, in the UK, whilst she was 16 and still in school. The comedian was in his early 30’s at the time. She told investigators that Brand referred to her as “the child” during an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship.

A third woman has accused Brand of sexually assaulting her while she worked with him in Los Angeles. She has alleged that the comedian threatened to take legal action if she told anyone about her accusations against him.

The fourth woman, in the UK, has accused the actor of emotional abuse and sexual assault.

Since investigations, another woman has come forward. She claimed that Brand pinned her down when she refused to have sex with him in 2008.

How has Russell Brand responded?

The actor has since published two videos on Twitter/X in response to the allegations.

Brand’s first video response detailed his recipience of a “litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.” The comedian has admitted that, pertaining to the time referred to in the allegations, he was “very promiscuous.”

Brand continued that during his periods of promiscuity, “the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”

The comedian clapped back suggesting that the media had metastasised the transparency around his promiscuous past into “something criminal.”

Brand’s second video response makes little reference to the allegations against him. Rather, the actor claims that the government has asked tech companies to censor content, in reference to YouTube’s demonetisation of Brand’s channel in light of emerging allegations.

Brand since urged his supporters to follow him on Rumble.

What now?

Following the media’s reporting of the allegations against Russell Brand, Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into the sexual assault allegations.

The Metropolitan Police stated that they have received numerous allegations of sexual offences by Brand in London, following investigations by Channel 4’s Dispatches and the Sunday Times. The force has also received reports in other parts of the country, which they say will be investigated.

The comedian has postponed his upcoming shows, and his book publisher, Bluebird, have paused all future projects with him.

Brand continues to deny all allegations made against him.

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Featured image courtesy of Jessie Essex on Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Originally from Birmingham, Kara is a Politics and International Studies student at the University of Warwick where she is the EIC of Warwick Labour's Magazine, as well as a Current Affairs Editor for Empoword.

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