Russell Brand: What are the allegations against the comedian?
Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women. An investigation that sheds light on the comedian’s behavior at the height of his fame.
The comedian and media personality has denied all “very serious allegations” made against him between 2006 and 2013.
Brand performed in front of 2,000 people at Wembley Park Theater on Saturday evening – but did not directly address the allegations made as part of an investigation The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 broadcasts Program.
The 48-year-old, originally from Essex, visited his YouTube channel on Friday When the allegations came to light, he said that all relationships during the “promiscuous” phase of his life were “absolutely always consensual.” He described the claims as “a litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks” which he vehemently denies.
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Who is Russell Brand?
Russell Brand has denied all allegations made against him
(Getty Images)
Brand rose to fame in the mid-2000s when his loud personality earned him appearances on E4 and MTV before Channel 4 and Radio 2. In his early phase of fame, he suffered from multiple drug addictions, but after quitting in 2002, he “filled that void with sex.”
The sun He was named “Shagger of the Year” three times and he had high-profile romances with Kate Moss and Katy Perry. He married the latter in 2010 in a Hindu ceremony at a tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India. Perry later recounted Fashion that after just over a year of marriage, Brand had told her via text message of his desire to get a divorce. He has been married to Laura Gallacher since 2017.
Brand was married to Katy Perry in 2010
(Getty Images)
In 2008, Brand resigned from the BBC after he and Jonathan Ross had a series of phone calls with actor Andrew Sachs, when Brand claimed to have had sex with the actor’s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. He then starred in films, initially in British comedies such as St Triniansbefore playing a British rock star in the US hit Forgot Sarah Marshall.
Since 2013, Brand has increasingly focused on social commentary, using interviews, books and social media to promote his views on topics such as drugs, politics, sex and media. He has 28 million followers across social media platforms and has organized wellness retreats and festivals.
Katie Rosseinsky writes: “Brand’s comedy style has always relied on shock tactics, but a look back at his history raises uncomfortable questions.”
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Dispatches Releases Ahead of Episode Trailer About Russell Brand’s ‘Treatment of Women’
What was Brand accused of?
Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse of four women. Others have accused him of predatory behavior.
The allegations were made on Saturday in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and in The Sunday Times as part of a coordinated release.
The times said Brand began a relationship with one of the women when he was 31 and she was only 16. She claims that on their first date he asked her to confirm whether she was 16 and said, “I don’t give a fuck. If you’re 1 2… I need to know where I stand legally.”
She claims he sexually abused her in his home shortly before their relationship ended.
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Another woman was said to have been treated at a rape crisis center after claiming she was raped by Brand. The times said she later texted him saying, “When a girl says[s] NO, that means no” after the alleged attack, and that Brand sent back an apology text.
The third complainant is said to have claimed that Brand attacked her in Los Angeles, prompting the star to threaten legal action if she pursued her case. The times reported that Brand was “physically and emotionally abusive” toward the fourth complainant.
One of those to be named after The times is Helen Berger, Brand’s personal assistant in 2006, who said she saw Brand showing intimate photos of women to his friends. “It made me really sick… These are women who don’t expect to be shown to the guy’s friends,” she said.
Most women are not named and their identities are protected by law.
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What did Brand say?
Brand posted a video on social media denying all allegations before the details emerged.
It said he received a letter and email from a “mainstream media TV company” and one from a newspaper detailing the complaints made against him.
Brand added that the list also contained “stupid stuff,” such as that a festival he organized should be stopped and that he should not be able to attack mainstream media narratives.
Katy Perry takes the stage after Russell Brand files for divorce via text message
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks, there are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” he said in the video.
“These allegations relate to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the cinema, and as I have written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous.
“During this time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were completely consensual.”
He further claimed that he was the victim of a “coordinated attack.”
The Independent has reached out to Brand representatives for further comment.