Britain’s BBC stated on Sunday it was “urgently looking into the issues” raised by allegations of sexual assault made in opposition to the broadcaster’s former worker, British comic and actor Russell Brand, who denies the accusations.
Brand, 48, the previous husband of U.S. singer Katy Perry, labored on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008.
He issued a denial on Saturday to unspecified “very serious criminal allegations” hours earlier than the accusations of sexual assaults, together with rape, had been revealed on-line by the Sunday Times newspaper and later aired on Channel 4 tv.
The Times and documentary present Dispatches reported that the alleged incidents had taken place between 2006 and 2013 and stated one girl had made an allegation of rape, whereas one other stated Brand assaulted her when she was 16 and nonetheless at college.
Two of the accusers reported that the incidents occurred in Los Angeles, the paper stated.
A BBC spokesperson stated in an announcement: “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.”
Banijay UK, the manufacturing firm behind a tv present as soon as hosted by Brand, stated it had launched “an urgent internal investigation”.
“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,” it stated.
Women’s charity Trevi, which helps girls affected by violence and abuse, stated it had ended its affiliation with Brand, and Tavistock Wood, a expertise company, stated in an announcement it “has terminated all professional ties to Brand”.
“Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him,” it stated.
London’s Metropolitan Police stated it had not acquired any studies in relation to the allegations.
“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 the police,” the police stated in an announcement.
© Thomson Reuters 2023.