Russell Brand: BBC Acknowledges ‘Power Dynamic’ That Hindered Employee Complaints
The BBC has concluded its review into Russell Brand’s tenure at the network, where he hosted radio programs from 2006 through 2008. An initial report included five complaints, one of which claimed that Brand exposed himself to a woman in an office bathroom, then joked about doing so on-air moments later.
A continued review revealed three additional complaints about the comedian’s “promiscuous or out-of-control” behavior. BBC Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews Peter Johnston found that, overall, internal intimidation led to employees being reluctant to report Brand’s behavior to the appropriate parties at the time.
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“As a general comment, I find that there was an apparent power dynamic and hierarchy surrounding these shows, as the presenter was perceived to be too influential,” Johnston wrote in the latest report. “I find there should have been better systems in place to ensure that Russell Brand’s unacceptable behaviour was promptly picked up and addressed and that all of those involved felt able to raise any concerns.”
Seventy-two people, including current and former BBC staff members, among others, were approached to share their experiences with Brand. Just over half agreed to contribute.
Johnston reported that Olivia, the woman Brand allegedly exposed himself to, “did not pursue it further in 2008 as she did not want to do so, thinking that she would not be believed. She told me she felt embarrassed and did not want to raise it or talk about it, so instead treated it lightly when it came up.” When she did make the report in 2019, Johnston added, the complaint was not properly escalated. “In my view, it is likely those involved in escalating the complaint in 2019 felt that there was nothing that could be done as it was over ten years later and Russell Brand had left the BBC in 2008.”
Other passages in the report address claims that Brand utilized BBC services to arrange cars to transport a 16-year-old girl, Alice, from school to his home and to her grandmother’s residence throughout the duration of their three-month relationship.
“If Russell Brand did persuade a taxi or mini-cab pre-booked on his behalf by the BBC to make these journeys, I find that this is likely to have been done without the knowledge of the BBC staff who booked his cars for him in advance and to and from fixed locations,” Johnston said. “Alice was also concerned about the management accountability for Russell Brand more generally while he worked for the BBC.”
Another segment of the report, titled “Inappropriate Conduct in the Workplace,” investigates allegations that Brand had sex in the bathrooms on BBC premises, exposed himself in the studio, and engaged in inappropriate behavior with competition winners. It also raises concerns about verbal complaints made as early as 2007 that were ultimately dismissed.
“The process for dealing with concerns of this nature in 2007 was a local management one. The different routes and support the BBC has now for raising concerns were not in place then,” Johnston said. “Therefore, the complainant was right to raise the 2007 incident with their line manager and from my interviews I believe the immediate line manager dealt with it properly too. However, nothing was then done to investigate it further and no action was taken.”
BBC reports that Brand was contacted to participate in the review, but ultimately declined. It recognizes that the comedian “categorically denies all public allegations made against him,” citing the YouTube video he uploaded after being accused of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse.
“Although he declined our invitation to participate in the review, I nevertheless provided him and his solicitors with information about my proposed findings and invited any comments they wished to make,” Johnston said. “No response was received from either Russell Brand or his solicitors to this.”
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