By Gavin Mackintosh-
Russel Brand’s promotional tour has been delayed in the wake of the multiple sexual complaints against him.
The BBC, Channel 4 and a production firm are investigating allegations that Russell Brand sexually assaulted four women, as more disturbing allegations of sexual assault by women has emerged since news of Brand’s overall misconduct arose.
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The sold-out event was part of Brand’s “Bipolarisation” tour, the ninth leg of which went ahead on Saturday at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, where he was greeted by cheers despite the string of allegations. However, his remaining shows have been cancelled.
Another show featuring Brand at Plymouth Pavilions was also set to raise money for the Blossom Appeal for Trevi, a Plymouth-based women and children’s charity.
The appeal will fund “a new, safe, trauma-informed women-only accommodation based in the centre of Plymouth… the place where women can find rest, peace and security and take positive steps in their journey of recovery from trauma and abuse.”
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Topping that off as a blow to the comedian is the fact that a pub in Oxfordshire owned by Russell Brand has been fenced off and temporarily closed in the wake of the serious allegations of rape and sexual assault by the comedian.
Brand and his wife Laura Gallacher, the sister of sports pundit Kirsty Gallacher, have run the pub since 2020.
Brand vehemently denies the explosive claims which surfaced as part of a comprehensive report jointly published by the Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
Alongside allegations of sexual misconduct, the report also shed light on Brand’s behavior towards women and his conduct in the workplace over the same period.
Channel 4 has removed a number of TV episodes starring Russell Brand from its catch-up series, following allegations of sexual assault against the presenter.
Russell Brand’s association with the BBC, where he worked as a radio presenter from 2006 to 2008, has raised multiple concerns following the revelations, and Channel 4 has taken major steps to remove a number of TV episodes starring Russell Brand from its catch-up series, following allegations of sexual assault against the presenter.
Television Staff Were Instrumental In Matching Brand With Sex Partners
Staff who worked with Russell Brand on a variety of TV shows have detailed how they were allegedly roped into finding him sex partners from the audiences of his programmes – while senior BBC staff reportedly knew he would have sex with competition winners in the building’s toilets.
The now disgraced comedian has long admitted being promiscuous in his past, in his autobiography blamed his father for the sexual addiction that turned him into a walking predator, after he lost his virginity to a prostitute paid for by his father who was sleeping with two more women in a neighbouring bed in Hong Kong.
The allegations come as serious past warnings were overlooked by broadcasters and the media.
In 2006, pop star Dannii Minogue called Brand a “vile predator” while describing an appearance with him on his MTV chat show 1 Leicester Square.
The Australian singer, who had been promoting her album The Hits & Beyond, told The Mirror: “[Brand] is completely crazy and a bit of a vile predator. I certainly don’t think he has cured his sex addiction, that’s for sure. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“He’s obviously very intelligent – but he wears more make-up than I do. Normally, I love guys with eyeliner on. It can be very sexy, but not on Russell. Absolutely no way, never, he’s just not my type.
“Throughout the whole interview, he kept making shocking remarks that I can’t even repeat. Just uttering the words would make me blush.”
The BBC released a statement affirming that they are “urgently looking into the issues raised” by the allegations. Channel 4, where Brand also held a presenting role, has initiated an internal investigation.
Crucially, it should be noted that the alleged incidents did not occur on the premises of either the BBC or Channel 4.
Nevertheless, these allegations have prompted soul-searching within the broadcasting industry and raised questions about its responsibility.
Sources cited by the Times indicated that a previous complaint had been made to BBC management about Brand’s “alarming display of aggression and disrespect.” This revelation has added a layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations.
During the period in question, Brand enjoyed a prominent career trajectory, hosting shows on 6 Music and Radio 2 for two years, presenting Big Brother’s Big Mouth on Channel 4’s sister station E4, and venturing into Hollywood.
Brand on numerous occasions reportedly used staff to select women from the audience whom the comedian found attractive.
His comic style which was premised on shock and controversy caused his career to thrive, despite growing complaints about Brand’s lack of sexual restraint
Staff told Dispatches how they were allegedly instructed to pass notes to members of the audience with either his phone number or the details of his hotel, later getting tearful phone calls from women who had slept with him and not heard from him.
Lesley Douglas, the controller of BBC Radio 2 at the time he presented a top-flight show on the station, was reportedly aware of claims Brand was having sex with competition winners at the toilets, and is alleged to have failed to act on them.
The Eye Of Media.Com today asked the BBC whether Douglas would be spoken to as part of their investigation, and when the findings of their investigation would be concluded.
We received no response.
This Sunday, the Times published a chilling first-hand account from a woman who accused Brand of rape in Los Angeles in 2012. The report also disclosed that more women have come forward with allegations against Brand’s behavior since Saturday, which are yet to be investigated but are now slated for rigorous scrutiny.
Endemol, the production company responsible for several shows featuring Brand during the mid-2000s, including Big Brother’s Big Mouth, was acquired by Banijay UK in 2020.
Endemol has affirmed its awareness of the “very serious allegations” related to Russell Brand’s “alleged serious misconduct” during his appearances in their shows.
The company has initiated an “urgent” internal investigation.
Channel 4, not to be left behind, has requested the production company responsible for their programs involving Brand to investigate the allegations thoroughly and report their findings to the broadcaster.
Simultaneously, Channel 4 has launched an internal investigation into the matter and encouraged individuals with knowledge of such behavior to contact them directly.
Termination Of Professional Ties
In a stern statement, Channel 4 declared, “We will be writing to all our current suppliers reminding them of their responsibilities under our code of conduct.” The broadcaster also confirmed to the Telegraph that it has removed all content featuring Russell Brand from its platforms pending further investigation.
This includes episodes of the Great British Bake Off, a program on which Brand made appearances.
Russell Brand’s management agency has also taken the radical step of terminating all professional ties to the actor and comedian after sexual assault allegations were published Saturday following a joint investigation by the Times of London, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.
In a statement published on Sunday, Tavistock Wood Management Agency said they believe they “were horribly misled by him.”
“Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him,” the agency said. “TW has terminated all professional ties to Brand.
Metropolitan Police
The Metropolitan Police has also now received official complaint from one of Brand’s alleged victims.
A Metropolitan police statement said: “We are aware of reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offences.
“On Sunday, 17 September, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.
“We first spoke with The Sunday Times on Saturday, 16 September and have since made further approaches to The Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual offence is aware of how to report this to the police.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us.”
The police issued a statement saying, “We will be making further approaches to the Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that any victims of crime who they have spoken with are aware of how they may report any criminal allegations to the police.”
Very Serious
On Monday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman described the allegations against Brand as “very serious”, saying “there should never be any space for harassment”, while Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has said she will speak to broadcasters about their investigations into him.
Questions remain as to why none of the complainants ever went to the police with their allegations on the first instance, although it is a well established fact that any factors sometime recent victims of sexual assault from going to the police immediately.
Shame, and the fear of not being believed us among some of the reasons victims stay quiet, especially when dealing with a powerful and influential celebrity.
The one problem critics have with what is seen as trial by media, is the extent to which ab eventual trial may prejudice a jury.
However, the media publications that published the allegations are pretty convinced Brand is guilty of the allegations made against him, and may be less concerned with whether they can be proven in a court of law.
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