UK police urged to investigate sex assault allegations against comedian Russell Brand
Sep 18, 2023
A senior British politician is urging police to investigate sexual assault allegations against comedian and actor Russell Brand
LONDON (AP) — A senior British politician on Monday urged police to investigate
sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand,
as entertainment industry figures faced questions about whether the comedian’s bad behavior went unchallenged because of his fame.Brand denies allegations of sexual assault made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. The accusers, who have not been named, include one who said she was sexually assaulted during a relationship with him when she was 16. Another woman says Brand raped her in Los Angeles in 2012.
Brand, 48, has rejected all the claims, saying in a video statement that his relationships were “always consensual.”
The Times said Monday that more women had contacted the newspaper with allegations against Brand and they would be “rigorously checked.”
Conservative legislator Caroline Nokes, who chairs the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, urged police in both Britain and the United States to investigate the “incredibly shocking” allegations.
“This merits and needs a criminal investigation, because for too long we have seen men -- and the perpetrators of these sorts of crimes are almost invariably men -- not being held to account for their behaviors and their actions,” she told BBC radio.
London’s Metropolitan Police force said it would speak to the Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure “any victims of crime who they have spoken with are aware of how they may report any criminal allegations to police.”
The claims have renewed debate about the “lad culture” that flourished in Britain in the 1990s and early 2000s, and the misogyny that still percolates on the internet.
The allegations reported by the newspapers and Channel 4 cover the period between 2006 and 2013, when Brand was a major star in Britain with a growing U.S. profile.
Known for his unbridled and risqué standup routines, he hosted shows on radio and television, wrote memoirs charting his battles with drugs and alcohol, appeared in several Hollywood movies and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.
Brand was suspended by the BBC in 2008 for making lewd prank calls to “Fawlty Towers” actor Andrew Sachs in which he boasted about having sex with Sachs’ granddaughter. He quit his radio show in the wake of the incident, which drew thousands of complaints to the publicly funded broadcaster.
The BBC, Channel 4 and the production company behind the “Big Brother” reality series – spinoffs of which were hosted by Brand -- all say they have launched investigations into Brand’s behavior and how complaints were handled.
In recent years Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media but has built up a large following online with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. His YouTube channel, which has more than 6 million subscribers, includes COVID-19 conspiracies, vaccine misinformation and interviews with right-wing broadcasters including Tucker Carlson and Joe Rogan.
He also continues to tour as a comedian, performing to hundreds of people in a London venue on Saturday evening as the Channel 4 documentary was broadcast.
More News
Skydance Co-CEO Ynon Kreiz Spotlights “Moral Responsibility” + Combating Antisemitism & Injustice In Simon Wiesenthal Gala Speech
“Defending Israel does not mean Israel is beyond criticism,” said Skydance’s Ynon Kriez bluntly tonight after being presented by Simon Wiesenthal Center’s 2026 Humanitarian Award by co-CEO David Ellison, Gal Gadot and Jeffrey Katzenberg. “The fight against antisemitism is a fight against hatred in any form,” the ex-Mattel boss added. Thanking Ellison for his “bold […]
Berlusconi Family’s ProSiebenSat.1 Earnings Surge on Cost Cuts as TV Advertising Slump Drags Revenue
ProSiebenSat.1, the German media group controlled by the Berlusconi family’s MFE-MediaForEurope, sharply grew its earnings in the first nine months of 2026 even as revenue fell 11%, with cost cuts more than making up for a weak TV advertising market and the impact of company sales. Revenue for January through September came to €2.24 billion […]
Khloe Kardashian Says Ex Lamar Odom is ‘Dead’ to Her Following Netflix Documentary Drama
Khloe Kardashian is done with ex-husband Lamar Odom. During the Thursday (November 12) episode of Hulu’s The Kardashians, Khloe, 42, […] The post Khloe Kardashian Says Ex Lamar Odom is ‘Dead’ to Her Following Netflix Documentary Drama appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
EbonyLife Group, Logical African Partners Launch $50 Million Fund to Support African Cinema (EXCLUSIVE)
Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Group and Logical African Partners — the African investment vehicle of France’s Logical Pictures — have launched a $50 million film fund dedicated to financing African cinema and supporting the continent’s filmmakers. The Afro Film Fund aims to finance approximately 35 African films across the next eight years, supporting an estimated four […]
Melanie Lynskey Joins Sophie Nelisse, Christina Ricci, & More Stars at ‘Yellowjackets’ Final Season Premiere in L.A.
The stars of Yellowjackets are together again on the red carpet! Melanie Lynskey, Sophie Nelisse, and Christina Ricci were among […] The post Melanie Lynskey Joins Sophie Nelisse, Christina Ricci, & More Stars at ‘Yellowjackets’ Final Season Premiere in L.A. appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
Hugh Jackman Shows Off Buff Bod During Morning Swim at Bondi Beach (Photos)
Hugh Jackman is kicking off his day at the beach! The 58-year-old Deadpool vs. Wolverine actor went for a morning […] The post Hugh Jackman Shows Off Buff Bod During Morning Swim at Bondi Beach (Photos) appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
Russell Brand's social media accounts disappear days after rape conviction
Russell Brand's social media accounts disappear days after rape convictionRussell Brand’s social media handles were deactivated just days after he was found guilty on charges of rape and sexual assault.Screenshots of the comedian's inactive Meta accounts were posted on his X account on...
Jazz Documentary ‘Tokyo in 33 RPM’ Unveiled Ahead of India’s WAVES Film Bazaar (EXCLUSIVE)
“Tokyo in 33 RPM,” a feature documentary about the jazz scene in Japan’s capital, is in the works from director Tanmay Srivastava and Synergy Pictures U.K. The project will be presented at WAVES Film Bazaar, the market that runs alongside the International Film Festival of India in Goa. The film moves between Tokyo’s working musicians, […]
KATSEYE star Megan Skiendiel marks return to stage after health concern
KATSEYE star Megan Skiendiel marks return to stage after health concernMegan Skiendiel from KATSEYE made her return to the stage to perform with the group!Still recovering from a concussion that forced the Gabriela singers to postpone three dates, Skiendiel resumed the tour with a show in Austin,...
Natasha Bure Details Postpartum ‘Health Complications’ After Welcoming First Child with Husband Bradley Steven Perry
New mom Natasha Bure is sharing a vulnerable message with fans following the birth of her first child. Last month, […] The post Natasha Bure Details Postpartum ‘Health Complications’ After Welcoming First Child with Husband Bradley Steven Perry appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
She Is Rewriting Mexico’s Ballads, One Woman’s Story at a Time
Grammy-nominated songwriter Vivir Quintana is known throughout Latin America for giving voice to women who fought back against domestic violence.
Think You Know Movies? Fix Today's Scrambled Frame Before Your Friends Beat You To It
Sliver #49 - November 12, 2026 View Entire Post ›