Russell Brand says ‘appalling’ allegations were ‘very hurtful’

Russell Brand has described the “appalling” allegations against him as “very, very hurtful” – as he again denied all wrongdoing.

In September, the actor and comedian was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, following a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times.

A documentary about the claims also included allegations of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour.

One of Brand’s accusers claimed she was 16 and still at school when they began a relationship, while another woman said she had been raped at Brand’s Los Angeles home.

Another woman told Sky News he made her feel “vulnerable and intimidated” and alleged he refused to call her a taxi until she performed a sex act.

The fallout from the claims caused Brand to suspend his tour.

After the documentary aired, other complainants came forward to the BBC and the Metropolitan Police. In November the force reportedly interviewed him. He has not been arrested or charged.

Brand, 48, told Tucker Carlson, in an interview posted on the former Fox News host’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, it was “hurtful” to be accused of “what I consider to be the most appalling crimes”.

He added: “This is very, very painful and very, very hurtful.”

‘Public concoction’

The actor, who has starred in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Trolls, revealed the Channel 4 documentary coincided with the birth of his son, who suffered health issues after being born.

He said: “My son was born with a heart condition. And while this [the documentary airing] was happening he was undergoing heart surgery, he was 12 weeks old and I suppose what that did, Tucker, is it revealed that what we were experiencing was a public concoction.

“I’m aware that I put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous, [but] that is not the type of conduct I endorse and it’s certainly not how I would live now.”

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Brand said he was now mentioning his son, as the documentary had made him aware of what is “important in life”.

He added: “Of course, I deny any allegations of the kind that have been advanced, and what I have seen is the significance of family and the importance of beliefs that are transcendent of this.”

‘Promiscuous lifestyle’

Brand said he had been a “denizen” of the entertainment world, where he was “fostered and adored and celebrated and lived the kind of lifestyle that was kind of common for people in that arena, for single people, and in my case drug and alcohol people… certainly with an appetite for a promiscuous lifestyle”.

In November, the BBC and Channel 4 provided updates on their internal investigations into Brand. The corporation said two more people had come forward with allegations, while Channel 4 said its probe was close to completion.

Brand worked for BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 from 2006 to 2008. He also hosted Big Brother spin-off shows Big Brother’s Efourum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth, between 2006 and 2013, along with other shows commissioned on Channel 4.

Source : Sky News