00:00Russell Brand's conviction and prison sentence have renewed scrutiny of celebrity power and
00:07the treatment of women. Separately, David Walliams faces allegations of misconduct.
00:13He strongly denies any wrongdoing. Many hopes revelations about Jimmy Savile back in 2012
00:20would mark a turning point. But how easy is it to speak up when the person you're challenging
00:27can influence your career? And could this finally be the moment the media industry changes how it
00:34listens and acts? We build people up. We expect them to be many things and perhaps walking saints.
00:42And of course, these are human beings. And there is this human frailty, if you like, that sort of when
00:47you build people up, they have egos to match. And I do accept the sort of people in the media,
00:52you know, you have to sort of be somewhat egotistical to sort of have that drive to get there in
00:56the
00:56first place. The fact that they perhaps may sort of, you know, become monsters. And of course,
01:02you know, as we've sort of seen in sort of the case of Russell Brand and who knows, there are
01:06a number
01:06of allegations made against David Walliams, which are yet to be proven. So of course, technically he's
01:11still innocent. But of course, I suspect that police inquiries may sort of follow and perhaps a court case
01:15and who knows what sort of result is that. There is this difficulty. But of course, this celebrity
01:20culture is something which is, you know, it's time immemorial. You know, it goes back, you know,
01:24into the depths of history. But of course, you know, when I grew up, of course, we had sort of
01:29pop stars. And of course, if I sort of name an extra one, Gary Glitter. And of course, we've
01:33sort of seen these people often have foetus of clay. It's, dare I say, I think it is the sort
01:38of
01:38problem that, you know, we expect these people to be something different, to be sort of, you know,
01:43they are superstars and we build them up. But, you know, the fact that they have sort of these human
01:48characteristics, which of course is, you know, weakness, is highly problematic. But of course,
01:52that's not to say that they should behave in a way which of course is where the rules apply to
01:57them
01:57as much as everyone else. The media industry has faced repeated scrutiny over the behaviour of some
02:03of its biggest names. The revelations about Jimmy Savile in 2012 led to investigations into how he was
02:11able to abuse people over decades. The BBC reviewed child protection, complaints procedures and how staff
02:18could raise concerns. In Russell Brand's case, a jury convicted him of one count of rape and three
02:26sexual assaults against four women. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison.
02:33Those offences took place between 2004 and 2009, before the public revelations about Savile.
02:41Separately, an ITV News and Guardian investigation has reported allegations that David Walliams used his
02:50celebrity status to pursue teenage girls and young women for sex. Walliams strongly denies wrongdoing
02:57and says he's never abused his power. He's not been arrested or charged. The High Court's refusal to
03:05stop publication did not establish whether those allegations were true. The wider question concerns
03:12organisations as well as individuals. How do employers, broadcasters and publishers handle concerns about
03:19someone whose name brings audiences and income? And can people raise complaints without fearing for their careers?
03:27Well, I mean, the police do not always name people, of course, that there is a degree, if you like,
03:32a sort of anonymity until people are charged. But, of course, these things leak out.
03:37It seems strange, of course, that sort of the allegations are made and, of course, it's done through the press.
03:41Now, of course, the press have every right to make these allegations and, of course, the person has every right
03:46to defend themselves. But, of course, the only way for that to ever be proven is in a sort of
03:50a court of law
03:51before a sort of a jury. But nonetheless, of course, the fact is, though, there's a great expression
03:56that sort of daylight is a great detergent. You know, where these people are sort of, you know,
04:00they're bigged up, to use the expression, then, of course, people sort of fear that, you know,
04:04if they say anything and make an allegation, they will sort of suffer. That also happens.
04:08So it's a really difficult one. And, of course, you know, I come back to this point.
04:13We do expect everyone to sort of to be absolutely perfect. But, of course, the human sort of nature,
04:18of course, is that we all have our sort of frailties and weakness and whatever.
04:21And the fact that sort of superstars have them as much as anyone else, maybe more so, it's a difficult
04:26one.
04:27But, yeah, as I say, it means we sort of have to sort of expect people to sort of be
04:30kept under control.
04:32But, of course, as I say, these people often have a sort of team around them of what they call
04:37personal assistants
04:38whose whole sort of job seems to sort of keep them happy. Maybe that's part of the problem.
04:44Prosecutors have praised the courage of the women who gave evidence against Brand.
04:49Whether this becomes a watershed moment will depend upon what changes beyond the headlines,
04:55whether people can raise concerns safely, and whether complaints are investigated fairly.
05:01That matters wherever someone's job or opportunities depend upon a powerful individual.
05:08The next time someone speaks up, the response will tell us how much has changed.
05:13The next time someone speaks up, the response will tell us how much has changed.
05:13The next time someone speaks up, the response will tell us how much has changed.
05:13The response will tell us how much has changed.
05:13The response will tell us how much has changed.
05:14The response will tell us how much has changed.
