Comedian Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotionally abusing four women during the height of his fame.

The alleged assaults occurred between 2006 and 2013, while he was a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4, and include an assault on a 16-year-old girl.

He vehemently denied the “very serious criminal allegations” ahead of a Sunday Times article and an expected expose to be aired by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme tonight.

The allegations include crew members on his Big Brother spin-off being made to feel they were working as a “pimp” by approaching young women on his behalf, and that he raped a woman at his Los Angeles home.

  • noodle@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    I really do wish allegations of this level of seriousness could go through the legal system before being presented to the court of public opinion. If he’s actually assaulting 16 year olds then he needs sending down!

    • Son_of_dad@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Most times the courts and authorities won’t give a shit unless you make a public stink about it. We just learned this from the Danny Masterson trial, which would never have happened if they women had only spoken to authorities and never went public

      • noodle@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        The problem with that is that the public should never get to be judge, jury, and executioner. Rumour and gossip should not be the basis for something this severe.

        Brand has made more than enough money to live his life peacefully out of the public eye. The court of public opinion is only capable of ruining the wrong peoples’ lives, people who don’t have wealth and fame. The rich and powerful can uncancel themselves after a short period of exile, should they wish.

        • pinkdrunkenelephants@sopuli.xyz
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          1 year ago

          Who do you think comprises the judge, jury and executioner?

          Juries are random people chosen off the street.

          Judges are elected most of the time.

          Executioners in states that still have the death penalty are just workers.

          Everyone in government is a member of the public because that’s what a government is.

          • VioletTeacup@feddit.uk
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            1 year ago

            I’m not sure why you thought the US system applied. We’re talking about a British comedian on /c/United Kingdom, on a UK instance.

          • RobotToaster
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            1 year ago

            Jurists are generally held to a higher standard than newspaper editors

    • lemonflavoured@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      From what I’ve read, none of the victims are willing to go to the police. Which is their decision, and theirs alone.

      • Doorbook@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        That’s why the way the legal system work need to be updated.

        Someone who have millions can afford best lawyer and spend time to afford fighting. While a normal person with maybe a minimum wage job cannot afford to go public, along with the cost, they also have to endure creepy people around them and their life will never be normal afterwards.