00:00Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse
00:04that allegedly occurred during the height of his fame.
00:07Four women have come forward in a joint investigation among the Sunday Times,
00:12The Times, and Channel 4 dispatches,
00:14alleging that Brand sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013
00:19while he was a BBC presenter and acting in Hollywood films.
00:23The first woman told the news outlets that Brand raped her against a wall in Los Angeles
00:27where she was treated at a rape crisis center the same day.
00:30The investigation also found text messages between the woman and Brand
00:34that seemingly corroborated the story.
00:36Another woman alleged that the comedian assaulted her when he was 31 and she was just 16.
00:41However, the comedian and actor preemptively denied the allegations in a video
00:45posted to his social media accounts on Friday,
00:48saying the allegations pertained to a time when he was known to be promiscuous.
00:52Now during that time of promiscuity,
00:54the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual.
00:57I was always transparent about that then, almost too transparent.
01:00And I'm being transparent about it now as well.
01:03He also called the allegations coordinated media attacks,
01:07comparing the accusations to when Joe Rogan faced backlash
01:09to taking ivermectin during COVID-19.
01:12It's been clear to me, or at least it feels to me,
01:16like there's a serious and concerted agenda
01:18to control these kind of spaces and these kind of voices.
01:21And I mean my voice along with your voice.
01:24Several other networks have launched their own internal investigations
01:27since the allegations have come to light,
01:29including Channel 4, the UK network that helped drive Brand's career in its early days.
01:34For more updates to this story, head to thr.com.
01:37And for the latest entertainment news and updates,
01:40keep watching The Hollywood Reporter News.
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