An internal investigation by Channel 4 found that there was “no evidence” that the station’s bosses knew about the allegations against Russell Brand.
Complaints against the 48-year-old comedian were filed with the BBC and the Metropolitan Police after Channel 4 Broadcasts And Sunday News An investigation broadcast in September revealed that four women had made allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse between 2006 and 2013.
Brand has strongly denied all allegations, which allegedly took place between 2006 and 2013 at the height of his fame. He recently told former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in a YouTube video that the allegations were “very, very hurtful.”
Channel 4 had to wonder how much its bosses knew since the presenter worked for the channel’s programs Big brother’s big mouth And Kings of Comedy between 2004 and 2007.
A report released by Channel 4 on Thursday said: “The investigation found no evidence that the broadcaster had knowledge of the allegations contained in the Dispatches programme about Russell Brand’s conduct during his time as presenter of Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Kings Of Comedy between 2004 and 2007.”
“No evidence was found to support the claim in the program that Russell Brand’s conduct was discussed at a commission meeting in 2014.”
Following the broadcast of the Dispatches documentary in September, two reports were received by the broadcaster’s Speak Up facility.
An allegation made by an employee in 2009 regarding Russell Brand’s behaviour towards them revealed “specific failings” at Channel 4, the report said.
The report states: “This allegation was not communicated to the senior management of Channel 4 nor investigated as it should have been under the procedures in place at the time.”
“Channel 4 also acknowledges that there have been delays in ongoing communications with the former employee in 2023 due to the length of the investigation.
“Channel 4 has apologised to the former Channel 4 employee for the 2009 breakdown, the communication delays in 2023 and the distress caused by this matter.”
An anonymous report with “limited information” was “unsubstantiated,” the investigation said.
The Independent has asked Brand’s representatives for comment.
Investigators also looked into what was known to the “higher levels” of the broadcaster when Brand was a contestant on The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer, which was filmed in 2018 but not broadcast until March 2019.
The Russell Brand: In public The Dispatches program went live in December 2019.
“While the investigation found that the recollections of former and current Channel 4 employees interviewed differed as to when concerns about Russell Brand began to circulate within the investigation team, the investigation team found no written or confirmed evidence that there was any suspicion of serious allegations about Russell Brand’s conduct within the channel prior to the broadcast of the special,” the report said.
“There is no record of any concerns being raised within Channel 4 or in public at the time of Russell Brand’s casting in the celebrity series. Bake against cancer Special or after the broadcast in March 2019.”
According to the investigation, published in September, Brand began a relationship with one of the women when he was 31 and she was 16. On their first date, she claims, he asked her if she was 16 and said: “I don’t give a damn if you’re 12 … I need to know where I stand legally.”
She claims he sexually abused her in his home shortly before the end of their relationship.
Another woman is said to have been treated at a rape crisis center after claiming she was raped by Brand. The times said she later texted him after the alleged attack, saying “when a girl says NO, it means no,” and that Brand texted back with an apology.
The third plaintiff alleged that Brand attacked her in Los Angeles, after which the star threatened legal action if she pursued the case. The times reported that Brand had “physically and emotionally abused” the fourth complainant.
The allegations also included controlling, abusive and predatory behavior, which he denies.
In an interview with the former Fox News According to radio host Tucker Carlson, Brand said it was “very, very painful” to be accused of the “most horrific crimes.”
The journalistic investigation, which dominated international news headlines, was published while his young son was undergoing heart surgery, Brand also said.
“I suppose this showed that what we experienced was a public invention,” said the Take him to the Greek Actor. “I am aware that I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by living a very, very promiscuous lifestyle. That is not the kind of behavior I condone and I certainly would not live that way now.”
“These events showed me many things – the value of my family, the value of friendship, the value of being able to speak publicly.
“I mentioned my son because throughout this whole time I was able to preserve what is really important in life… As hurtful as it is to be accused of what I believe are the most horrific crimes, it is very, very painful and very hurtful to be faced with this accusation.”
He added: “But I am being shown that my rather foolish life in the past has consequences – although of course, to reiterate, due to the nature of the world we live in, I naturally deny any allegations of this kind that have been made.”
With reporting from agencies.
