A BBC report has found “unacceptable behavior” by comedian and former radio presenter Russell Brand. An internal investigation, which began in 2023 after four women accused Brand of sexual assault elsewhere, revealed that inadequate management allowed his behavior to go unchecked.
The probe looked at eight complaints against Brand, two of which were raised during his time at the BBC from 2006 to 2008. The report said staff members did not report concerns about Brand because they feared retaliation and believed he would get away with it due to his high-profile status.
Complaints included allegations of Brand touching a co-worker’s private parts, exposing himself in a bathroom, and engaging in consensual sex with someone who was visiting the BBC after winning a radio contest. However, one staff member reported that their complaint was ignored, and an investigation found no action was taken.
Many colleagues were affected by Brand’s behavior but felt silenced due to concerns about being overruled or dismissed. The BBC director of editorial complaints and reviews wrote in the report: “There should have been better systems in place to address Russell Brand’s unacceptable behavior promptly.”
Brand has denied all allegations, but is currently under investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police. The British culture minister described the allegations as “horrendous” and called for industry-wide action to prevent abuse and harassment.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/arts/russell-brand-bbc-investigation.html