Russell Brand issues statement after week of sexual assault allegations

Russell Brand has posted a fresh video online following days of accusations of rape, sexual assault, and controlling behaviour made against him by several women.

The 48-year-old Get Him to the Greek star hit headlines last weekend as several women made claims against him in an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

He has been accused of inappropriate behaviour over a seven-year period at the height of his fame in TV, radio, and film from 2006 to 2013. One woman says she was just 16 when Brand assaulted her.

More women have since come forward with allegations, with the Metropolitan Police also having received a report of an alleged sexual assault in Soho, London in 2003.

Brand’s career has taken several knocks, with his UK and Australian tours cancelled, being dropped by his management, and the BBC and Channel 4 launching their own investigations into his behaviour while working on their shows.

The St Trinians actor previously denied any wrongdoing, admitting to being ‘very promiscuous’ in his past but insisting all sexual encounters were ‘consensual.’

‘The Trusted News Initiative is a collaboration between big tech and legacy media organisations to target, control, choke and shut down independent media organisations like this one.’

Brand also said he would return to his show on Rumble – a right-wing, online video platform that refused to follow YouTube in blocking the comedian from advertising revenue on its site.

The controversial podcaster described the streaming site as having made a ‘clear commitment to free speech’.

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He said: ‘It’s clear that these organisations (mainstream media outlets) collaborate in constructing narratives, whether it’s about the war or the pandemic, and of course, there are other examples.

‘It is very clear to me that we have to be very, very cautious indeed.

‘That’s why I’m asking you to follow me on Rumble.’

He said he would continue talking about ‘deep state and corporate collusion’ and how democracy is ‘shut down, ignored and avoided’.

‘And of course, we’ll be talking about media corruption and censorship.’

Brand concluded by telling his viewers that following him on Rumble is ‘the only way that we can keep our voice.’

The TV star added that he never imagined that he would need his followers’ support as much as he does now.

‘And I need your support now, more than ever, and more than I ever imagined I would,’ he said.

‘So, follow me, support our channel if you can, if it’s within your means, but more important than any of that is that you please, if you can, stay free.’

The video was posted just moments before Newsnight aired on BBC Two with fresh accusations about the former Hollywood actor’s behaviour.

Cole Parker, who worked with Brand between 2000 and 2002, claimed that models were often warned by their agents about the comedian.

He has not responded to the latest claims made in the interview in which Parker told Newsnight he was ‘surprised’ details were not made public sooner.

‘A lot of the modelling agents would sit down and tell their models, tell their stable, warn them about him,’ he said.

‘Things like people go back to his house and they fool around and then if they didn’t want to go all the way, he had a reputation for sometimes getting angry or a bit nasty if people wouldn’t sleep with him the first time.

‘And given the fact that he was a celebrity, very good-looking man, very funny, he didn’t really need to sort of operate that way.

‘There would have been plenty of people who would have been happy to get themselves involved in a dalliance with him, he didn’t have to go with people who were reluctant to do so.’

Asked if he was surprised by the allegations, he added: ‘I’m surprised it didn’t come out sooner, I’m surprised at the moment that it’s only four of them.’

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