YouTube has blocked Russell Brand from making money from his online channel after the British actor and comedian was accused of a string of sexual assaults.
Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile comedians and broadcasters, said on Saturday he had never had non-consensual sex.
That came as the UK’s Sunday Times newspaper and Channel 4 TV’s documentary show Dispatches reported that four women had accused the 48-year-old of sexual assaults, including a rape, between 2006 and 2013.
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London police said on Monday that since then they had received an allegation of sexual assault dating from 2003.
Brand, the former husband of US singer Katy Perry, has repositioned himself in recent years to build a more than six million-strong following to his YouTube channel.
Recent videos included an interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and discussions on everything from COVID-19 to UFOs, censorship and wellbeing.
YouTube, owned by Google parent Alphabet, said it had suspended monetisation on Brand’s channel after he violated its creator responsibility policy.
“If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community,” a YouTube spokesperson said.
Brand issued a video message on social media on Saturday to deny the “very serious criminal allegations” hours before they were published.
“These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I’ve written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous,” Brand said.
“Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual,” added the comedian, known for his flamboyant style and appearance.
Live shows planned by Brand have also been cancelled after the allegations emerged in the media.
In the spotlight
The BBC is now facing questions after it has been alleged that he used the corporation’s car service to pick up a 16-year-old from school so she could visit his him at his home, according to The Times.
The broadcaster previously said it is “urgently looking into the issues raised” while Brand worked on BBC radio programs between 2006 and 2008.
Channel 4 announced it is conducting “its own internal investigation” following the allegations and the broadcaster has removed content featuring Brand from their streaming service while they look into the claims.
“We will be writing to all our current suppliers reminding them of their responsibilities under our Code of Conduct, as we are committed to ensuring our industry has safe, inclusive and professional working environments,” a Channel 4 statement added.
It comes after Brand was accused of pursuing audience members for sex while presenting Big Brother spin-off shows EFourum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth on Channel 4.
A researcher claimed concerns about Brand’s behaviour were reported to production managers at Endemol, the company commissioned by Channel 4 to produce the programs in 2004 and 2005 but were dismissed.
Banijay UK, which bought Endemol in 2020, later announced it had launched an “urgent internal investigation” and encouraged “anybody who feels that they were affected by Brand’s behaviour” to come forward.
The celebrity ‘shield’
The chairwoman of the UK House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee has said she feels a criminal probe should look into the sexual assault allegations against Brand.
Caroline Nokes told BBC Radio 4’s Today program said: “For too long we have seen men … not being held to account”.
“Unfortunately, it seems that celebrity, for whatever reason, can act as a shield for individuals.”
As Dispatches aired on Saturday evening, Brand performed a sold-out comedy gig at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in north-west London as part of his Russell Brand Bipolarisation tour.
– with The Press Association
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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