Note: The following article contains discussion of allegations of rape, sexual assault and abusive behaviour.
Russell Brand is facing fresh allegations as a woman has claimed he exposed himself to her and laughed about it afterwards on his BBC Radio 2 show.
The comedian has already been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse in allegations that arose in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.
The claims came from four women who have made allegations covering a seven-year timeframe between 2006 and 2013.
Brand recently released a video in which he denied "serious criminal allegations". However, he’s now facing fresh claims of sexual misconduct.
The BBC has confirmed it will investigate the new allegations as part of a review into Brand’s time at the broadcaster.
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The woman who has made the accusations worked for a media company in the same building as the BBC's Los Angeles office 15 years ago.
She’s claimed that on June 16, 2008, she answered the door to Brand and his team, who were there to pre-record an episode of The Russell Brand Show for BBC Radio 2.
According to BBC News, the woman alleges she then went to the bathroom to get some medication and soon felt someone behind her.
She recalls turning to see Brand and him saying: “Oh, I think you’re a bit alright. I think you’re a bit alright.”
In her account to the BBC, she claims Brand said he was going to have sex with her and she replied, "No, you're not".
The woman alleges Brand then showed her his genitals and with the bathroom door closed, she felt trapped.
After returning to her desk following the alleged incident, the woman says she texted a BBC employee in the office about it and was told Brand was already discussing the encounter in the studio.
In an episode of Brand’s Radio 2 show, which aired on June 21, 2008, the comedian is heard speaking about exposing himself with co-star Matt Morgan.
"It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady," Morgan says.
"Very easy to judge. Very easy to judge," Brand replies, laughing.
In a statement sent to the BBC, Morgan says until now he was not aware of "the nature of this encounter".
"I've expressed my regrets now looking back at the impact of the show and this is a further example," he continued in a statement. "The recent coverage has been very distressing to read and I reiterate my absolute condemnation of any form of the mistreatment of women."
According to the BBC News report, the woman never made an official complaint, and while BBC management was informed about the incident in 2019, no formal action was taken.
A BBC spokesperson said: "We're very sorry to hear of these allegations and we will look into them.
"We are conducting a review to look at allegations of this nature and if the woman who has shared her story is willing to speak to us, we would be very keen to hear from her and anyone else who may have information."
Brand has not yet responded to the latest allegation. Digital Spy has reached out to his legal representatives for comment.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
News Editor, Digital Spy
Emma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more.
Later specialising in multimedia entertainment news, Emma has brushed shoulders with numerous famous faces and interviewed the likes of Edward Norton, Margot Robbie, Sir Michael Palin, Rick Astley, and too many soap stars to count. Having produced a range of engaging news content over the years for brands such as 7Digital’s Entertainment News, Yahoo, and Express Online, Emma eventually joined Digital Spy in 2022 as Deputy News Editor, becoming Acting News Editor in 2023 and then News Editor in 2024.
While she’s gained lots of praise during celebrity interviews throughout her career, the most memorable compliment Emma’s ever received was when a Game of Thrones star remarked "Your teeth are stunning!". LinkedIn
