Channel 4, the BBC and the Met Police have all launched probes into Russell Brand‘s behaviour in light of rape and sexual assault allegations, as friends of the comedian begin to distance themselves from him.
The investigations come in response to accusations published in The Sunday Times and on Channel 4‘s Dispatches which saw multiple women accusing him of abusive and predatory behaviour, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, between 2006 and 2013.
The Metropolitan Police has said it will speak to the media outlets following their investigation, but added that at this time the force has ‘not received any reports in relation’ to the allegations of sexual assault detailed in the article or documentary.
It comes as Banijay UK, which produced Big Brother’s EForum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth in the early 2000s, revealed it had also ‘launched an urgent investigation’ into the alleged behaviour of the 42-year-old comedian who hosted the programmes between 2004 and 2006.
Former staff members who worked on the shows have claimed that Brand got them to ‘act like pimps’ by getting the numbers of women in the audience and passing notes to them from the presenter.
Brand, who has denied all the allegations and insists any relationships were ‘consensual’, was dropped by a charity working to end violence against women in light of the accusations.
However, he has received support from some public figures, with the likes of Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and Laurence Fox all appearing to back the comedian as he claimed to be the victim of a ‘co-ordinated media attack’.
Billionaire tech mogul Musk, self-proclaimed misogynist Tate and actor-turned-political activist Fox threw their weight behind Brand, fellow comedians such as Jo Caulfield, Sofie Hagen and Daniel Sloss appeared to turn their backs on him.
Russell Brand is alleged to have asked staff on the Big Brother shows he was hosting to ask female audience members for their numbers. Pictured: Russell Brand hosting Big Brother’s Little Brother in May 2006
Former staffers on the show claimed they felt Brand had got them to ‘act like pimps’ with his requests. Pictured: Brand on Big Brother Celebrity Hijack in 2008
The comedian released a video last week refuting all the allegations against him. Pictured: Brand leaving the Troubabour Wembley Park theatre after a gig last night
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed the outlet spoke with the Sunday Times yesterday and will speak with the newspaper, as well as Channel 4, further to ‘ensure that any victims of crime who they have spoken with are aware of how they may report any criminal allegations to police’.
‘We are aware of media reporting of a series of allegations of sexual assault. At this time, we have not received any reports in relation to this,’ the force said in a statement.
‘If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police.’
Similarly, the BBC has said it is ‘urgently looking into the issues raised’ in the joint investigation.
In a new statement, a BBC spokesman said today: ‘The documentary and associated reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years. ‘Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised.’
Channel 4 has also said it is conducting its own internal investigation following allegations about Brand.
The statement added: ‘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.’
Two of the women in Channel 4’s Dispatches which aired on Saturday night said they felt production companies had ‘enabled’ Brand’s behaviour.
Production runner, Rachel, 24, worked alongside Brand on Big Brother’s EForum, later Big Mouth. Weeks after she started the role, Brand is said to have focused his attention on her.
Rachel said: ‘It’s difficult to say when the line was crossed.’ She added that producers often asked her to deliver unfavourable news to Brand to ‘soften the blow’.
She said the pair went on to have sex, which he told her was a breach of his contract.
Rachel said: ‘He made clear to me I couldn’t tell anyone else on the crew because he had it written into his contract that he wasn’t allowed to have any sexual contact with anyone working on Big Brother.
‘It sounds slightly dramatic but with hindsight and now as an older woman I can say with clarity that, you know, I felt like I was groomed, for sex.
‘Production companies enabled him to exist in these environments where he was able to take advantage of who he was.’
Three staff who worked on Big Brother told Dispatches about Brand.
One said: ‘My role was to recruit audience members for the live show. We used to go out flyering out by the universities, find university students who would come be on the show.’
Another said: ‘Russell is pointing out audience members and asking the runner to get phone numbers.’
A third said they would be handed paper sometimes telling which hotel Brand was in.
The production staff said they received tearful phone calls the next day from those that had been to see the comedian.
One said: ‘It was like we were taking lambs into slaughter. We were basically acting like pimps to Russell Brand’s needs.’
A researcher claimed concerns about his behaviour while working on the shows were reported to production managers at Endemol, which was bought by Banijay UK in 2020.
A statement from Banijay UK, which bought Endemol in 2020, said: ‘In light of the very serious allegations raised by Dispatches and The Times/Sunday Times investigation relating to the alleged serious misconduct of Russell Brand while presenting shows produced by Endemol in 2004 and 2005, Banijay UK has launched an urgent internal investigation and will co-operate with any requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies.
‘We also encourage anybody who feels that they were affected by Brand’s behaviour while working on these productions to contact us in confidence.’
Banijay UK, which produced Big Brother’s EForum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth in the early 2000s, said it had ‘launched an urgent investigation’ into his alleged behaviour. Pictured: Russell Brand standing with Davina McCall during filming for Big Brother in 2005
Last night, comedian Russell Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse of four women following a bombshell investigation. Pictured: Brand leaving Troubadour Wembley Park theatre in north London following a live performance of his show
In a statement, Channel 4 said: ‘Channel 4 is appalled to learn of these deeply troubling allegations, including behaviour alleged to have taken place on programmes made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007.
‘We are determined to understand the full nature of what went on. We have carried out extensive document searches and have found no evidence to suggest the alleged incidents were brought to the attention of Channel 4. We will continue to review this in light of any further information we receive, including the accounts of those affected individuals.
‘We will be asking the production company who produced the programmes for Channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings properly and satisfactorily to us.
‘In the many years since the alleged incidents took place, there has obviously been extensive change in Channel 4’s management and commissioning teams. Today, Channel 4 has a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviour and has a robust Code of Conduct. We require all suppliers to have in place rigorous safeguarding policies and provide whistle-blowing support, including Channel 4’s Speak Up facility.
‘We are committed to ensuring our industry has safe, inclusive and professional working environments.’
Andrew Tate took to X, posting a cartoon meme of a knight preparing for battle, captioned: ‘On my way to fight the crazy b***h allegations’
In a separate Tweet responding to Brand’s video he called the allegations made against the comedian a ‘Matrix attack’
Responding to the Tweet, tech mogul Elon Musk told Brand: ‘Of course. They don’t like competition’
Smooth Radio presenter Kirsty Gallacher shared Brand’s video on her Instagram story with a large red love heart, however, a few hours later and after the investigation was published in full at 4pm BST, the post vanished from her Instagram stories, suggesting she had deleted it
While TV bosses investigate the claims made by Brand’s accusers, the comic has received support online from the likes of Andrew Tate, Elon Musk, Laurence Fox and his sister-in-law Kirsty Gallacher.
Appearing to support Brand, Tate said ‘Welcome to the club Russell Brand’ accompanied by a cartoon meme of a knight preparing for battle, captioned: ‘On my way to fight the crazy b***h allegations’.
Tate, who is currently facing charges of rape and human trafficking – which he has denied – in a separate Tweet responded to Brand’s video calling it a ‘Matrix attack’.
Meanwhile, Tesla and X owner Musk, also appeared to back the under fire star’s comments on the media. He said: ‘Of course. They don’t like competition.’
In a video questioning the allegations against Brand, Fox said: ‘It’s fascinating to see some parts of the legacy media talking about Russell Brand like we are going to believe anything they say about anything.
‘Whatever Russell Brand got up to, and I can guarantee it because I was around, everything he would have done, would have been sort of acceptable.
‘Because otherwise his producers would have called him out and fired him.
‘Now that may be an uncomfortable thing to deal with for people but that’s how the world was then.’
His sister-in-law, model and TV star Kirsty Gallacher, initially appeared to be in support of Brand, who is married to her younger sister Laura.
She shared his video to her Instagram story with a huge red love heart – but just a few hours after the full investigation was published the post, which remains up for 24 hours, had disappeared.
However, famous names from the British comedy circuit appeared to distance themselves from Brand.
Mock of the Week presenter Jo Caulfield took to X this morning, writing: ‘In whatever industry you work in, keep speaking out.
‘Predatory behaviour and abuse is wrong…. It’s a tragic and age old story and it has to stop.’
Meanwhile, British comedian Sofie Hagen also spoke out against alleged lurid behaviour within the industry.
She wrote: ‘In my current show, I briefly talk about a comedian who was once preying on a 16 year old girl AND IT WASN’T EVEN RUSSELL BRAND. It was ANOTHER ONE.
‘The internet is flooded with statistics and examples of what happens to victims who report sexual assault or people that speak out against predators, so if it bugs you that we all keep talking about unnamed predators, then know, it probably bugs us too that they’re unnamed.’
And comic Dom Joly wrote: ‘The amount of people defending Russell Brand, slagging off the women involved and believing that this is all because Brand is some ‘threat to the Matrix’ is pure Trumpism and deeply, deeply depressing…’
Following Channel 4’s Dispatches investigation into the alleged abuse, Trevi – a charity that supports vulnerable women and children – have cut all ties with Brand
On Brand’s charity Stay Free, he lists several organisations he donates too. Trevi said it had cut ties with Brand, however,, the Treasures Foundation said it was not making a decision at this time
Earlier today Trevi, a women’s charity that Brand has worked with for more than a year, said they had ‘ended their association’ with him.
The organisation that helps vulnerable women and children said it had been ‘deeply saddened and upset’ by the alleged victim’s stories adding its priority remains protecting the ‘safety and well-being of all women and girls’.
A photo of Brand still remains on the charity’s homepage, however, along with an article about how he is raising funds for Trevi at his new live show Bipolarisation in Plymouth on Tuesday.
In a statement posted to its Instagram just hours after the shocking documentary was released Trevi said: ‘We are deeply saddened and upset by the stories reported on this evening’s Channel 4 Dispatches programme regarding Russell Brand.
‘Russell became aware of our charity in 2022 after hearing about some of the incredible mothers we have helped to become drug-free over the years. He wanted to support our cause and raise money through his Stay Free Foundation.
‘Today’s media revelations have been difficult to process but our priority remains and continues to be the safety and well-being of all women and girls now and in the future.
‘We have ended our association with Russell Brand and the Stay Free Foundation.
‘As a charity whose values put women’s voices at the heart of what we do, we always prioritise supporting women affected by violence and abuse and empower them to live without violence and fear.’
It added that it understood how the allegations could be triggering for some women and urged those who need support to contact The Survivor Pathway.
In the investigations, one woman alleged Brand raped her against the wall in his Los Angeles home when she was in her 30s. Another – whom he referred to as ‘the child’ – told how the presenter targeted her when was 16 years old and still at school, and he was aged 30.
Last night, the Met Police said it had been made ‘aware’ of media reports about ‘a series of allegations of sexual assault’ and urged any alleged victims to come forward.
But in an extra-ordinary preemptive fightback, Brand took to social media ahead of the 90-minute Dispatches documentary to the social media to ‘absolutely deny’ a string of ‘very serious criminal allegations’.
The comedian is also a supporter of several other organisations, including the Friendly House – an organisation in Los Angeles that provides women seeking recovery from alcohol and other substance use.
One of the charities Brand supports is the Friendly House in Los Angeles, California. He remains on their homepage and is set to host a lunch in October
Brand is also a supporter of the BAC O’Connor Centre, which helps provide rehabilitation for recovering addicts
The comedian’s charity Stay Free, which helps those with addiction, also donates money to the Treasure Foundation.
The foundation which helps women suffering from drug abuse in East London, however, told MailOnline that it would not be cutting any ties with the comedian at present, adding that the women it supports were the priority.
It said that many of the people supported by the foundation have ‘been through sexual trauma’ and some have even ‘been perpetrators’, adding that part of the program includes practicing forgiveness.
A spokeswoman said: ‘At Treasures Foundation we only know Russell Brand in the capacity of him wanting to make amends and give back to women, hence the desire of his to give to our charity.
‘We are part of a program that practices forgiveness and making amends. Many of us have been through sexual trauma and some of us have been perpetrators.
‘We need to take this time to process what is going on, we are talking to the women we support and will be issuing feedback from them, as as always the voice of the women we support is of the upmost importance.
‘We cant make an opinion on what has come out right now. We just know him for the good that he does now.’
The comedian, who has insisted that during his ‘time of promiscuity the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual’, also supports the BAC O’Connor Centre, in Staffordshire.
The organisation helps rehabilitate those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
A video of Brand, who is been open about his own struggles with addiction in the past, explaining why those suffering should choose the organisation.
MailOnline has contacted Trevi, the Friendly House and BAC O’Connor.
Just hours after the allegations first came to light, Brand took centre stage at Wembley Park Theatre in front of a crowd of 2,000 people.
He told fans as he continued his tour : ‘I really appreciate your support. I love you.
‘I’ve got a lot to talk to you about. There are obviously some things I absolutely cannot talk about and I appreciate that you will understand.’