Russell Brand facing fresh set of allegations amid ongoing sexual assault claims

Jody Coffey

*Trigger Warning: Some readers may find this article distressing as it contains explicit details and language that some might find offensive.

Russell Brand is facing more allegations following the publication of an investigation carried out by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches, wherein four women detailed their account of Brand’s treatment of women.

Brand, 48, has refuted the accusations that allegedly took place between 2006 and 2013 and claims that all of his relationships were ‘always consensual.’

The BBC says it is now looking into accusations from a woman – who has been named as ‘Olivia’ by the corporation to protect her identity’ – about sexual misconduct involving the comedian on his Radio 2 show, The Russell Brand Show, in June 2008.

According to BBC News, the claim states that Brand allegedly exposed himself to the woman and was later heard talking about it on air.

It is reported that the alleged sexual misconduct was prerecorded and broadcast days later.

BBC News reports that the encounter left ‘Olivia’ stunned. The woman making the accusation worked in the same building as BCC in Los Angeles at the time.

Brand was then recorded laughing with his co-presenter, Matt Morgan, who said Brand ‘showed his willy to a lady.’

‘Olivia’ says she answered the door to the comedian and his team, who arrived to pre-record an episode of The Russell Brand Show for Radio 2.

When detailing the events of June 16th, 2008, she said she went to the bathroom to retrieve some sinus medication, walking past the radio studio.

While squatting to look through the medicine cabinet, she says she felt someone behind her and she turned around to face a man’s crotch.

“I was startled and got up and I realised it was the man that I’d let in – Russell.”

‘Olivia’ recounted the conversation that came after the incident.

“Oh, I think you’re a bit alright. I think you’re a bit of alright.”

She claims that Brand told her that he was going to call her Betty, and when corrected that it wasn’t her name, he replied: “Well, I’m gonna fuck you. And I said: ‘No, you’re not.'”

The woman then alleges that Brand then pulled out his penis with his hand and “pretty much served it to me as you would be serving someone some food”. She says the door to the bathroom was shut, and she felt trapped.

“There was a bit of banter going on because I didn’t know what to do.”

‘Olivia’ says he then put his penis back inside of his trousers, and she recalled hearing someone banging on the door, saying that someone from his team had called for him, at which point Brand left.

She says she then returned to her desk in shock at what had happened, and sent a text message to a BBC employee in the office about it.

The employee told ‘Olivia’ that he knew what had occurred as Brand had been talking about it in the studio.

The below episode, which aired on June 21st, 2008, contains the recording of the encounter between Brand and ‘Olivia’:

In the recording, ‘Olivia’ is referred to as ‘the receptionist’ – a job title she says she did not hold and says she felt ‘disgusted’ when she heard the clips.

“It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady,” co-presenter Morgan says, to which Brand laughs and responds “Very easy to judge! Very easy to judge!”

“The receptionist,” Morgan adds as Brand continues laughing and says, “Look.”

“He got told off for ringing a bell, minutes later he’s showing his willy,” Morgan says.

“I feel ashamed, but more so I wonder had something been done, perhaps there would have been fewer women he would have done horrible things to, which we’re reading about in the papers now.”

‘Olivia’ did not submit a complaint at the time but says she had hoped that someone working for the BBC would reach out to her upon hearing the episode, but it didn’t happen.

When the investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme was published, she went in search of the recording from the Radio 2 show and admitted she did not think she would be taking seriously if she flagged the incident officially as she is ‘blonde’ and ‘accented’ and says she had concerns about how the accusation would impact her family.

Brand’s former co-presenter, Matt Morgan, in a statement sent to the BBC via his legal team, has said:

“I was not aware until now of the nature of this encounter.

“I have expressed my regret now looking back at the impact of the show, and this is a further example. The recent coverage has been very distressing to read and I reiterate my absolute condemnation of any form of mistreatment of women.

“I thought to myself, Oh, that’s a bit strange nobody has come to say sorry to me, for his behaviour. So I thought perhaps that particular audio – because it was so graphic – had been cut out, which is probably why I never pursued it.”