Russell Brand assault allegations mount: Agent, publisher drop comedian, comments resurface

The fallout is mounting against comedian Russell Brand from allegations against him, including rape, sexual assault and abuse.

Brand is being accused of ? and denying ? rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame.

One woman alleged Brand raped her, while three others accused him of sexual assault, according to a joint investigation from The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4's "Dispatches." One of the women also said he had been physically and emotionally abusive.

The women said they only felt ready to tell their stories after being approached by reporters, with some citing Brand's newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer as a factor in their decision to speak.

Here's everything we know about the scandal and the aftermath.

Russell Brand denies sexual assault allegations

Before the report was published, Brand posted a video online denying the allegations, which had been outlined in two "extremely disturbing letters" from a "mainstream media" television company and a newspaper. He didn't identify the news organizations by name.

The accusers, who have not been named, include one who said she was sexually assaulted during a relationship with him when she was 16 and she was still in school. Another woman says Brand raped her in Los Angeles in 2012. She was treated at a rape crisis center the same day, per The Times of London's report.

"Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute," he said, adding that his past relationships were "always consensual."

The allegations reported by the newspapers and Channel 4 cover the period between 2006 and 2013, when Brand was a major star in Britain with a growing U.S. profile.

Read Russell Brand's full statement: Comedian denies rape, sexual assault allegations

'An extraordinary and distressing week': Russell Brand returns to social media to promote his content

In his first statement since denying the allegations, Brand briefly alluded to the various investigations into his conduct that have been initiated in a video posted to his social media platforms Friday.

"Obviously, it's been an extraordinary and distressing week, and I thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information that you've been presented with," he says at the start of the three-minute video.

Brand goes on to discuss the topic he will be covering in the episode of his show, which will be available on Rumble, "the primary platform we will be streaming from." The announcement comes several days after YouTube announced that Brand would no longer be able to earn ad money through his videos.

"I need your support now more than ever, more than I ever imagined I would," Brand says in conclusion, asking for his fans to monetarily support his channel "if you can, if it's within your means."

YouTube suspends Russell Brand's ability to monetize content

YouTube said Sept. 19 that Brand will no longer make money from the video streaming site.

YouTube said monetization of Brand's account, which has 6.6 million subscribers, has been suspended "following serious allegations against the creator," the site told The Associated Press. The suspension means Brand will not earn money from ads running within and alongside his YouTube videos.

Other channels associated with Brand's main YouTube page include "Awakening With Russell," "Football Is Nice" and "Stay Free With Russell Brand."

More context: Russell Brand barred from making money on YouTube amid sexual assault allegations

Russell Brand's 2009 comedy special removed from Paramount+

"Russell Brand in New York City," Brand's debut Comedy Central standup special, was streaming on Paramount+ as of Tuesday morning, according to NBC News. It's no longer available on the streamer as of Sept. 20, USA TODAY can confirm.

The comedy special premiered 2009, the year after his Hollywood breakout role in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall."

USA TODAY has reached out to Paramount+ representatives.

Kristen Bell comments about Russell Brand resurface

Bell spoke to The Daily Mail and the Scottish Daily Record after working opposite Brand in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and discussed how she warned Brand not to mess with her amid his reputation as a "womanizer." In the wake of Brand's allegations, her comments have resurfaced.

"(Brand) knew I wouldn't stand for any of his nonsense," she told Daily Mail in April 2009. "He didn't fancy me at all and in fact went out of his way to tell me how grotesque I was. And I certainly didn't fancy him because he's so high-maintenance – he took longer in make-up than I did."

While Bell later said she "had a lovely time" working alongside Brand "because he was a bit protective towards me," she told the Scottish Daily Record the following year that Brand "didn't try to mess with me or get in my pants" out of fear.

Russell Brand's agent, book publisher drop him

Brand's talent agency Tavistock Wood cut him from its roster in the wake of allegations, which an agency rep says it's been aware of since 2020.

"Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him," a representative from Tavistock Wood told USA TODAY in a statement Sept. 17. "TW has terminated all professional ties to Brand."

Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird, which published Brand's "Recovery: Freedom from our Addictions" in 2017, halted its working relationship with Brand following the "very serious allegations," a spokesperson told USA TODAY Sept. 18.

A follow-up, "Recovery: The Workbook" was scheduled for release in December.

Investigations, inquiries into allegations against Russell Brand begin

London's Metropolitan Police Force said Monday that it had "received a number of allegations of sexual offenses" after a television documentary and newspaper investigations. It said there have been no arrests.

The police force did not name Brand in its statement, but referred to the recent articles and documentary. It said detectives were investigating allegations of "non-recent" sexual offenses, both in London and elsewhere.

After the allegations against Brand came to light, broadcasters who previously employed him also launched internal investigations.

Women's charity cuts ties with Russell Brand

Brand's charity Stay Free Foundation raised money in 2022 for Trevi Women, a charity that aids mothers with drug and alcohol rehabilitation as well as social services for the women and their children.

In a statement shared on the Trevi Women's Instagram Sept. 16, the charity announced they were cutting ties with Brand, adding they are "deeply saddened and upset" by the allegations.

"As a charity whose values put women's voices at the heart of what we do, we always prioritize supporting women affected by violence and abuse and empower them to live without violence and fear," the organization said.

Russell Brand postpones remaining dates on UK tour after sold-out comedy show

Promoters on Brand's Bipolarisation Tour postponed the comedian's remaining U.K. dates in a statement to venues Sept. 18.

Brand was scheduled to perform at Theatre Royal Windsor on Sept. 19, Plymouth Pavilions on Sept. 22 and The Halls Wolverhampton on Sept. 28. All tickets for the performances will be available for refund.

Prior to the postponement, Brand was met with cheers while performing a sold-out comedy show at the 2,000-capacity Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre on Sept. 16. "There’s some things I cannot talk about and hopefully, you appreciate that I’m gonna give you everything I’ve got," he told the crowd, according to Deadline and The Wrap.

Russell Brand's rants: Actor goes on about 'propagandist' MSNBC, says it's not 'any different' from Fox News

Russell Brand's ex-wife Katy Perry calls relationship 'very controlling' after 2012 divorce

Brand married U.S. pop star Katy Perry in 2010 after meeting on the set of "Get Him to the Greek" in 2009. The two divorced in 2012, with Perry claiming in her June 2013 Vogue cover that Brand asked for a divorce over text.

"At first when I met him he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal and they're like, I can’t handle the equalness. He didn't like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour," she said. "So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting. I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can't necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day."

Who is Russell Brand?

Brand rose to fame as a stand-up comic in Britain in the early 2000s, which led to starring roles on Channel 4 and later BBC Radio, where he capitalized on a reputation for outrageous behavior and risqué banter. In recent years, he transformed himself into a political commentator and influencer posting YouTube videos on subjects such as personal freedom and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brand was suspended by the BBC in 2008 for making lewd prank calls to "Fawlty Towers" actor Andrew Sachs in which he boasted about having sex with Sachs' granddaughter. He quit his radio show in the wake of the incident, which drew thousands of complaints to the publicly funded broadcaster.

He later made the jump to Hollywood, appearing in films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" in 2008 and the remake of "Arthur" in 2011.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit hotline.rainn.org/online and receive confidential support.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka, The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russell Brand allegations of sexual assault: YouTube, manager cut ties