Several streaming platforms and YouTube have taken swift action against comedian and actor Russell Brand following recent accusations of sexual assault against him.
Brand has been accused of sexual assault by at least four women, as revealed in a joint report from Channel 4 and The Times. These allegations have also reignited past misconduct accusations from various points in his career. The timing of these revelations has come at a critical time for Brand, as they coincide with a phase in his career where he has transitioned from starring in movies to primarily appearing in social media videos and stand-up comedy, relying on streaming platforms to generate revenue.
YouTube, a platform that played a significant role in Brand’s digital presence, announced on Tuesday that it was cutting ties with the comedian. They claimed he had violated their “creator responsibility policy.” Podcasting platform Acast has followed suit, pulling ads from Brand’s shows.
The BBC, a longstanding platform for Brand’s content, also took action by removing some of his material from its streaming library. The network cited that his content “now falls below public expectations.” Most recently, Paramount+ has chosen to remove Brand’s 2009 comedy special, Russell Brand In New York City, from their streaming roster.
Not all of Brand’s content has been removed from streaming platforms, however. His 2018 special, Re:Birth, remains available on Netflix, as well as some of his movies, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek, which are still accessible on various platforms. These inconsistencies in content removal highlight the complexities of dealing with such allegations in the entertainment industry.
The fallout from these accusations has even extended beyond the digital realm. Brand’s current stand-up tour has been postponed, and his management company has dropped him.
Prior to the release of the report containing the allegations, Brand released a video in which he vehemently denied the claims. He suggested that the mainstream media might have an “agenda” in their decision to report on the multiple accusations of sexual assault against him. He has remained silent since posting the video.
