Adekanbi Victoria
The BBC has issued an apology to employees who felt unable to voice concerns regarding Russell Brand’s behavior during his time at the broadcaster. This apology follows an internal review into the corporation's handling of complaints about Brand, who has consistently denied all allegations against him.
The review, which cost £662,000, included interviews with 39 individuals and examined eight complaints of misconduct related to Brand’s tenure at BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio 2 from 2006 to 2008. Notably, only two of these complaints were raised while he was employed.
The findings acknowledged that some presenters had previously misused their positions, contributing to a culture where staff felt discouraged from reporting concerns. Peter Johnston, the BBC’s director of editorial complaints and reviews who led the investigation, stated that employees believed Brand “would always get his way,” which deterred them from speaking out.
Allegations examined in the review included claims that Russell Brand urinated into cups or bottles in the studio, threw objects, engaged in sexual acts on BBC premises—including with competition winners—and exposed himself to staff and guests.
The review also investigated a complaint from a woman working in the same building as the BBC’s Los Angeles office, who alleged that Brand flashed her in 2008 and later joked about the incident on his radio show.
Peter Johnston noted that the "culture of the time" influenced what was tolerated, and that complaint processes were less developed than they are today. However, he emphasized that the BBC has since strengthened its reporting mechanisms.
Brand, 49, was invited to participate in the review but declined. He has maintained that all his sexual relationships were "always consensual."
The review found compliance lapses in some of Brand’s Radio 2 broadcasts, which allowed inappropriate content to be aired. These failings contributed to his departure in 2008 following a high-profile controversy involving a prank call to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.
Brand’s hiring was recognized as a decision that carried “editorial risks,” given his provocative comedic style. However, at the time, it aligned with the station’s strategy to attract a younger audience.
The BBC emphasized that, in response to allegations raised in 2023 by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches, it was essential to conduct a thorough review. In its statement, the broadcaster expressed gratitude to those who participated, acknowledging that speaking out “has not been easy.”
The BBC confirmed it remains in contact with the Metropolitan Police, who are conducting an ongoing investigation into Russell Brand. In November, the Met Police submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service regarding allegations of non-recent sexual offenses.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the findings as "horrendous" and stressed that the perception that certain stars were "untouchable" must be addressed. She urged the BBC to take action to restore public and staff confidence in its commitment to tackling misconduct.
Similar reviews have been conducted into Brand’s work on Channel 4, including his Big Brother spin-off shows. Banijay UK, the production company behind those programs, found that concerns informally raised about Brand’s behavior between 2004 and 2008 were “not properly escalated or addressed.” However, Channel 4’s separate investigation found no evidence that senior executives were aware of any accusations.
Sky News has reached out to Brand’s representatives for comment.
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