A BBC review into the conduct of Russell Brand during his time with the broadcaster has found people were too scared to raise concerns about him because they believed he ‘would always get his way’.
The actor and comedian, 49, has been accused by four women of sexually assaulting them between 2006 and 2013. He denies accusations of sexual assault, and previously said all his relationships were ‘absolutely always consensual’.
Since the claims were first revealed in 2023, the Met has launched an investigation into complaints received against the star, first interviewing Brand under caution on November 16, 2023.
Today, the BBC published the results of an internal report into Brand’s time as a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music between 2006 and 2008.
The Peter Johnston review said today that he investigated eight complaints about Brand, with two of those made when he was working for the BBC.
One of those, over him urinating into a cup during a Radio 2 show, was registered registered formally at the time, and the BBC had admitted it was ‘not dealt with effectively’.
Mr Johnston said today: ‘I am grateful to those who have come forward to talk to me and my team and I have apologised on behalf of the BBC to those most directly affected by what I have documented here.
‘The culture of the time undoubtedly influenced what was acceptable/tolerated, but I have found that a number of individuals had concerns about Russell Brand’s behaviour which they felt unable to raise then.
‘Many interviewees believed, rightly or wrongly, that Russell Brand would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent (and I note here my finding above that the one complaint that was made in 2007 was not dealt with effectively when it was made).
‘The processes for raising any concerns were also not as developed as they are now.
‘In the intervening years the BBC has introduced other mechanisms and routes for staff to raise concerns.’
Brand has been accused of a string of sex offences including sexual assault and rape by the women, some of whom were teenagers at the time of the alleged incidents.
The first allegations included one woman who claimed that Brand raped her against the wall of his Los Angeles home without a condom in 2013. She was treated at a rape crisis on the same day, according to medical records seen by The Times.
Another woman alleged he sexually assaulted when she was 16-years-old and still at school in the UK.
A third claimed that Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked with him in LA. She alleged she repeatedly told him to get off her and when he finally did he ‘flipped’.
The fourth claimed she was sexually assaulted by Brand in the UK and accused him of being physically and emotionally abusive towards her.
In the wake of the scandal, a fifth woman filed a report to the Metropolitan Police, claiming she was sexually assaulted by the star in Soho, London, in 2003.
Another accused Brand of locking her in a dressing room and pinning her to a sofa with a ‘glazed’ look on his face. The alleged incident, as reported in The Sun, was said to have taken place in 2008 when the comic was 33, after a gig in West London.
One woman also came forward claiming Brand exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated from in 2008, before going to pre-record a programme for Radio 2 where he appeared to joke about the alleged incident.
And another who was named Sarah to protect her identity, claimed the comic had left her feeling ‘vulnerable and intimidated’ after he allegedly refused to get her a taxi until she performed a sex act.
In response to the review into Russell Brand, the BBC said: ‘When allegations were raised about Russell Brand in 2023, relating to his work at the BBC, it was important that this was looked into methodically.
‘This work has been conducted with the greatest care. We want to thank the individuals who have participated, as we know that it has not been easy to speak out about some of the issues the review addresses.
‘The review considered eight complaints of misconduct about Russell Brand, only two of which were made while he was engaged by the BBC, one formally and one informally.
‘It is of great concern that some of these individuals felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand’s behaviour at the time, and the BBC has apologised to them as part of this review.
‘It is also clear that there were compliance inadequacies on some of Russell Brand’s Radio 2 shows which led to content being aired that would not be broadcast today. Russell Brand left the BBC in 2008 following a high-profile editorial breach.
‘As has been reported, there is an ongoing police investigation into Russell Brand. The BBC has been in contact with the Metropolitan Police throughout the review and they have seen the report.
‘The BBC acknowledges that Russell Brand categorically denies all public allegations made against him.’
The broadcaster also said it was ‘clear presenters have been able to abuse their positions at the BBC in the past’ and that a number of steps had been introduced since 2008 to deal with serious allegations.
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.