Everything we know about the accusations of sexual assault against Russell Brand

Content Warning/Trigger Warning: this article contains details of sexual assault, please take care when reading. 

According to an extensive investigation conducted by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches, four women have accused British comedian of “Get Him To The Greek” fame Russell Brand of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013. 

According to The Times investigation, which relies heavily on medical reports, police reports, confirmed text messages sent to and from Brand, and statements from the victims as well as fellow comedians like Daniel Sloss, Brand had a pattern of predatory, abusive, and controlling conduct. Brand has denied the allegations on his Instagram.

The allegations are incredibly graphic in The Times report. One woman claimed that Brand raped her against a wall. Medical records documented that she received treatment at a rape crisis centre the same day. Another woman, who dated the comedian for about three months, accused Brand of emotional and sexual assault when she was 16 years old. A third woman said he threatened to take legal action if she discussed her sexual assault allegation with anyone. A fourth woman recounted his sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.

Throughout the years, Brand's behavior has sparked major concern. In fact, the report details how women at Channel 4 were denied the opportunity to work on show’s featuring Brand because of the network’s worry that Brand might assault more people, further documenting how the industry kept Brand safe at the expense of women.

Now, consequences are rolling in for Brand after the report was published. Brand was dropped by his literary agency Tavistock Wood after one of the alleged victim's contacted them, per The Times.

 "Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him. Tavistock Wood has terminated all professional ties to Brand," a statement read. 

The BBC has also pulled all of its former content featuring Brand from their streaming and broadcast channels. 

In addition, he is now facing further repercussions on YouTube where he has built a following as a lifestyle guru and also a far-right pundit on media lies and misinformation. Just this morning YouTube announced it has demonetized all of Brand’s content, per NBC News. YouTube said monetization of Brand's account, which has 6.6 million subscribers, has been suspended "following serious allegations against the creator."

"This decision applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by Russell Brand," the platform announced. That means Brand will no longer earn money from advertisements placed on his videos, some of which have alarmist titles like, “Covid Tsar Admits Lockdowns Were NEVER About Science."

In addition, there is now greater scrutiny on ex-wife Katy Perry, who hasn’t yet publicly commented on the new allegations. However, old interviews from 2013 amid their divorce have resurfaced with quotes that some people have interpreted to mean their breakup was sparked by his reputation as an abuser.

In 2013, she told Vogue, “Let’s just say I haven’t heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me December 31, 2011,” and then later adds, “At first when I met him he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal and they’re like, I can’t handle the equalness. He didn’t like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting. I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can’t necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day. I let go and I was like: This isn’t because of me; this is beyond me. So I have moved on from that.”

That “real truth” comment has social media spinning.

In the wake of the report, old interviews with actress Kristen Bell, who co-starred with Brand in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” has resurfaced where she says she knew of Brand’s reputation and let it be known she would physically fight him if he dared touch her.

In 2012, she told the Scottish Daily Record, "I made it really clear from the beginning that I would sock him in the b***s if he tried anything. So he was intimidated.”

Earlier in 2009, she told The Daily Mail about Brand, "I had no idea who he was until I Googled him and saw what a little stinker he is with the ladies. He kept reminding us every 10 minutes of how famous he is in Britain by going, ‘It’s so weird not to be recognised here.’”

She continued, "He didn’t fancy me at all and in fact went out of his way to tell me how grotesque I was. And I certainly didn’t fancy him because he’s so high-maintenance – he took longer in make-up than I did."

The Independent reports that in another interview she claims Brand "didn't try to mess with me or get in my pants," because "he knew I would lop his n**s off."

In addition, singer Katharine McPhee has denied any impropriety stemming from an old interview she gave with Russel Brand when interview by Jimmy Fallon in 2013.

When a video of the interview emerged, showing Brand seemingly pulling McPhee onto his lap with suggestive movements, The Daily Mail questioned if this was consensual, prompting McPhee to comment on the article on their Instagram.

“Daily mail -I know nothing what you are trying to claim here but this specific incident was over 10 years ago and it was harmless. Please don’t try and use me for whatever purpose you are trying to serve,” she wrote. 

New details and consequences over this report are emerging every day, so only time will tell how this will play out for Brand and for his accusers.