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One of the women who accused entertainer Russell Brand of sexual assault when she was 16 stated that his behavior was a “well-known fact.”
The woman, known as Alice, added that allegations against him have been “a long time coming”.
Between 2006 and 2013, the comedian and actor has been accused of rape and sexual assault, which he denies.
She stated that his denial is “laughable” and “insulting” for the first time since the accusations became public.
Alice said, “It honestly feels surreal right now to see my story everywhere, including on the front pages of publications to which I have not spoken.”
And it seems to have been a long time coming.
“However, it also felt like something that would never come to fruition for me, so I can’t say I’m happy because it’s been a negative experience. But I believe we can have conversations that will lead to future protection of people.”
Brand has denied all allegations of misconduct, stating that he is the target of “a coordinated attack” that includes “very serious allegations that I categorically refute.” The former TV and radio host, who now posts online videos about spirituality and politics, stated that his relationships have “always been consensual.
Alice stated that she found his response “insulting” but not unexpected. She continued, “And it is laughable that he would even imply that this is some sort of mainstream media conspiracy.”
He falls within the mainstream. He did a film for Universal Pictures last year, a children’s film called Minions. And he is a prominent member of the mainstream media.
“He just so happens to have a YouTube channel where he discusses conspiracy theories to a rapt audience.” Perhaps cynically, but I believe he was cultivating a long-term following that would reject any medium reporting claims. He was aware of its imminence for a long time.”
She continued, “And as for his denial of any non-consensual conduct, I’m not surprised. These men always refute the allegations made against them. I expected he would.
He did not deny having a relationship with a sixteen-year-old.
Alice added that her mother tried everything she could to advise her school-aged daughter to avoid the 30-year-old entertainer.
“She obeyed all of her maternal instincts. She confiscated my phone. And she would attempt to keep me confined to the home,” the woman explained.
Alice claimed that after a few days of dating Brand, he told her that his management told him not to be seen with her in public because, while not illegal, it “wasn’t a good look for him and his career.”
A spokesman for John Noel management, who represented the star at the time, stated that they “were unable to respond to questions” due to “legal reasons” on which they “cannot elaborate.”
Alice said she felt “cultivated” and “cheapened,” developed an eating disorder, and had future relationship issues.
It’s the greatest open secret in existence; you don’t need to be an investigative journalist to speak with someone who has had a bad experience with him or who knows something.
She is currently advocating for the legalization of “staggered ages of consent”
In an investigation conducted jointly by the Sunday Times, the Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches, the allegations were made.
Alice characterized the allegations made against him as “merely the tip of the iceberg.”
She claims a BBC-provided chauffeur drove her to Brand’s home. She wishes to learn “why more wasn’t done at the time” to defend young women.
Additional allegations
Alice said demands were made to “taken off” girls and women after Brand’s Channel Four work.
“At the time, I worked in television and was privy to conversations about employing Russell on a TV program and removing women from those shows so that he wouldn’t assault them, as he had in the past, and that he wouldn’t be inappropriate with them. “Therefore, we’ll simply remove the young women so he can work on this,” she said.
Channel Four stated in a statement that it was investigating the allegations.
Since the investigation was made public, The Times has received additional allegations but has yet to verify them.
Production company Banijay UK says it has launched an “urgent investigation” into allegations of misconduct against Brand, who presented programs produced by a company it now owns in 2004 and 2005.
Brand performed for 2,000 fans at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London as part of his Bipolarisation tour.
Sunday Times media editor Rosamund Urwin, who worked on the story, stated on BBC Breakfast that any new claims require verification, which “requires a tremendous amount of effort.”
She noted that journalists have received a “huge number of leads” since the story emerged last Saturday.
Brand performed for 2,000 fans at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London as part of his Bipolarisation tour.
Lorraine Heggessey, the former controller of BBC One from 2000 until 2005 – before Brand worked for the corporation – said there were “numerous examples” of unacceptable conduct by the star on-air which should have been dealt with by his bosses.
During a live phone conversation, Brand joked about offering his female assistant to Jimmy Saville.
“Well, it is shocking,” she stated. Jimmy Savile’s revelations had not been made public at that time. I still think the recording was unsuitable for transmission and should have been flagged editorially and escalated.”
Heggessey, who appeared in the Dispatches documentary, responded, “Well, I think it was part of the culture of the Russell Brand show, but I’m not sure it was part of the culture in general at the time, and there seems to have been a lack of senior editorial oversight and an inability to rein him in.”
She added, “There were numerous examples of his behavior and constant demeaning of the female newsreader, who was increasingly put in an impossible position, and even when complaints were made about it, he joked about them on-air.”
No one appears to have ever stepped in to say enough is enough, and the results are evident to all.
