According to British media reports, comedian and actor Russell Brand (48) is accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. According to the allegations, this happened over a period of seven years when he was at the peak of his career.
The allegations were made as part of a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, as reported by the BBC, among others. Four women apparently make serious allegations against Brand. They claim the alleged sexual assaults took place between 2006 and 2013. Brand denies the allegations and said his relationships have “always been consensual.” Other allegations made in the reports relate to Brand’s allegedly controlling and abusive behavior.
The police have now called on suspected victims to come forward. So far there has been no complaint against Brand, as British media write, citing the London Metropolitan Police.
Just hours after the allegations were made public, Brand performed a planned comedy gig in northwest London as part of his current tour. According to the BBC, the comedian made allusions to the allegations, but did not address them directly. He reportedly told the audience that there were things he wanted to talk about but couldn’t, “and I appreciate that you guys will understand.”
Before the allegations became known, Russell Brand published a video on his YouTube and social media channels. In it he says he received letters from a “mainstream media TV company” and a newspaper. According to him, the letters contained a “litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.” There are “some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” said the comedian.
He added: “These allegations relate to the time when I worked in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the cinema, and as I have written extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous.”
He goes on to say that during this time, “the relationships I had were absolutely and always consensual.” “I was always transparent back then, almost too transparent, and I am that now too.” Russell Brand further explains in the clip that he believes the allegations are part of a “coordinated attack” and that the matter is “very, very serious.”
Russell Brand has been working as a comedian, presenter, singer, actor and author since the 1990s. He became known, among other things, for films such as “Never Have Sex With Your Ex Again” (2008) or “Men’s Trip” (2010). Russell Brand was in a relationship with the American singer Katy Perry (38) from 2009 and was married from 2010 to 2012. They separated again in 2011, just 14 months after their wedding in India. Brand then married the author Laura Gallacher (36) in 2017, with whom he is currently expecting their third child.
