Photo Credit: Digital Music News
Following some serious sexual assault allegations, comedian and actor Russell Brand is seeing his content demonetized across the internet. YouTube made a statement—but Spotify appears to have disabled his audiobooks quietly.
Brand has denied the allegations against him, saying his relationships have always been consensual. But at least four women are alleging different sexual assault incidents between 2006 and 2013. Those allegations include one woman who says Brand raped her without a condom against a wall in his Los Angeles home. She was treated at a rape crisis center on the same day, which has been confirmed in a Sunday Times investigation.
Another woman says Brand assaulted her when she was 16 and he was in his early 30s. She says he referred to her as ‘the child’ during an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship. A third woman says she was sexually assaulted by Brand while she worked with him in Los Angeles. Finally, a fourth woman alleges Brand assaulted her in the UK and was emotionally abusive towards her.
After the allegations were made public, several events featuring Russell Brand were canceled. YouTube issued a statement after it demonetized the comedian’s channel, saying it took action to protect its community. Spotify appears to have made Russell Brand’s audiobooks unavailable on the platform—though his music is still available to stream. Spotify has not made a statement about the audiobooks being unavailable.
The Sunday Times reports that Brand’s attitude towards women was an ‘open secret’ in radio and TV production. Brand is alleged to have undressed in the studio while working as a presenter for BBC Radio 6 Music. Another incident says Brand made sexual remarks on air about a newsreader, which he says he was told to apologize for making.
Sources complained to BBC management about displays of “aggression and disrespect” from Brand including the throwing of objects across the room and urinating in bottles while in front of staff and guests.