Comedian Russell Brand faced a storm of allegations as he returned to the stage for the first time since being accused of rape, sexual assault, and abuse by multiple women. The 48-year-old performer appeared at a sold-out stand-up show at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in northwest London as part of his Bipolarisation tour.
Brand, known for his comedic talent and social influence, expressed gratitude to his fans for their support and acknowledged that there were certain topics he couldn’t discuss, alluding to the allegations. The comedian addressed the crowd of 2,000 people, saying, “I really appreciate your support, I love you, and I want to do a fantastic show for you. There are obviously some things that I absolutely cannot talk about, and I appreciate that you will understand.”
Hours before Brand’s performance, three prominent British news organizations, The Sunday Times, The Times of London, and Channel 4’s “Dispatches,” published reports detailing allegations made by four women who claimed to have known Brand for over seven years during the peak of his fame. One woman alleged rape, while three others accused him of sexual assault. Additionally, one of the women claimed to have experienced physical and emotional abuse.
Brand swiftly denied the allegations, asserting that all his relationships had been consensual. In a statement, he said, “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I refute. 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 have written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous.”
The comedian emphasized that during his promiscuous phase, all his relationships were consensual and that he had always been transparent about it. Brand also suggested that the reports were part of a coordinated attack aimed at discrediting him due to his controversial views, including skepticism about COVID-19 vaccines and interviews with contentious podcasters like Joe Rogan.
Following the publication of the allegations, the BBC, Channel 4, and a production firm announced that they would be launching investigations into the claims made during Brand’s tenure as a presenter on BBC Radio’s 6 Music and Radio 2, as well as his hosting roles on Channel 4 shows. While none of the alleged assaults were said to have occurred on BBC or Channel 4 premises, multiple claims about Brand’s workplace behavior have surfaced.
The Metropolitan Police in London confirmed their awareness of the news reports regarding the sexual assault allegations but stated that they had not received any direct reports related to the allegations. They encouraged anyone who believes they have been a victim of sexual assault, regardless of when it occurred, to come forward and contact the police. The department is in communication with the Sunday Times and Channel 4 regarding the matter.
In response to the allegations, talent agency Tavistock Wood announced that they had severed all ties with Brand. The agency stated, “Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him.”
Brand rose to fame as a stand-up comic in Britain in the early 2000s, gaining starring roles on Channel 4 and BBC Radio, where he capitalized on his reputation for outrageous behavior and risqué banter. He later transitioned to Hollywood, appearing in films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” in 2008 and the remake of “Arthur” in 2011. During his career, Brand was married to pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012.