So it is Russell Brand

[Gro]

The biggest news story of the year is about someone who has already written books about all the stuff he has done. I will be surprised if Dispatched can say one thing I didn't already know.

I'm not denying your point but are you forgetting the complexities and difficulties victims have in reporting such crimes?

Fame complicates things much more (as seen in Weinstein and Saville).

Investigative journalism had an incredibly important role to play in situations where victims struggle to achieve justice - or even attempt to achieve justice - through the normal routes. It also has a long history of doing so.

Nothing said by channel 4 has said that this going to be trial by tabloid or media. Its not the same as Phillip schofield a few months ago. A programme like this, whoever it is about, could not be made without evidence that would stand up to legal challenge - the UK has especially strong laws for libel.

Oh I'm sure he knows a lot of fellow pervs @BeverleyMacker but he's got a regular podcast and could be saying anything he wants at any point.

I can't imagine he had done anything we don't already know about. I went to his gig in Brighton about 20 years ago and at the end he said if anyone one wants a shag stay behind. There were women, and men from 18 to about 60 who went up the front. That's fairly open to me.

It's a known fact that he IS. He's written and talked about it extensively.

This is going to my opinion and I don't think it's going to be a popular one.

I'm absolutely tired of trials by media. I am tired of people being accused of things and people immediately believing them without proof or a trial. And they lose their whole life over rumour and finger pointing without even being arrested!

We had harvey weinstein go to prison. He was found guilty and that is what should happen. Once they are found guilty after having a trial, then go for it. Have a go all you want. Let them lose everything but only once they've had a fair trial.

But I hate this whole smoke without fire thing. All I can ever remember is poor Joanna yeate's landlord. Do you remember the poor girl killed?

He was literally pulled to pieces in the paper for being a suspect. He was eccentric but it isn't a crime to be eccentric. He had very distinct hair and he had to get rid of it because he was getting abuse from everyone recognising him.

Then it wasn't even him.

Any accusations should be sent to police so they can deal with it. That's what I think instead of news outlet doing this. And I aren't a fan of Russell.

Once again the crimes of Bagpuss go unreported and unpunished. His reign of terror continues unabated.

I blame Gabriel.

He is about as alt-right as they come!! Whether or not he believes his shit is another thing, but he's been playing to the right wing grift for a very long time because, like the supposed 'globalists' he rails against, he has in fact been following the money himself. A master manipulator with 'a way with words' who has successfully preyed on the gullible and recruited a massive army of conspiracy theorists "just asking questions". That should be a Dispatches story in itself. (Also, sex addiction isn't a get-out for criminal behaviour, if what is being alleged is true).

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/technology/internet/61724/tarnished-brand?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=shared_link

I think it’s very unfair for people to be speculating about rape etc..

I don’t see that there’s a ‘big story’, probably just media hype to get people like you taking, a stunt to get people to watch dispatches tonight?

It’s wrong to speculate that someone is a rapist.

@Milkkbottles Maybe not explicitly but it's being implied and a few PP's are downplaying what could be potentially serious allegations with the 'well he's always been honest about his promiscuity and sex addiction'. They're not the same. But that's the point.

I thought it would be prince andrew.

Maybe RB is getting used to cover other things up.

There’s an assumption the victims haven’t gone to the police. This might not be the case and considering what happened with Saville… this could be a big story on an institution rather than a washed up comedian.

I’m going in with an open mind.

I listen to a podcast by two comedians who sometimes mention how seedy and exploitative the industry is to young women, and to a lesser extent, young men. It happened to them when they were younger and now they try to look out for the current people starting out.

All names redacted of course but they do mention people they say are household names as being particularly horrible. And it's all hushed up, protecting the big guns.

So I'm guessing it's that.

I meant the police but I guess it could be channel 4. They haven’t held back in other documentaries about their own treatment of celebs in the past.

look out for = help and protect, not anything more horribly euphemistic.

Women would queue up to sleep with him. Absolutely no idea why!

Well said @Milkkbottles.

@Namechange666 I agree with you. Some years ago, a very good friend was accused of these sorts of crimes. They were utterly innocent and proven to be so in court. But what they had to endure before the trial was awful. Questioning of everyone involved with them was not "did they ever touch you?" but "they touched you, didn't they?".

The phrase "there's no smoke without fire" was heard many, many times. Often from the same people who, when the case was over "knew they were innocent all along".

How awful it must have been for the landlord in the Joanna Yeates case. Everyone was so quick to pile on and utterly vilify him. And it continues - anytime anyone Googles the case, I bet his is once of the first faces to pop up in the results.

I’m just reading about his use of prostitutes, the masseuse that he and Jemima Khan threatened to sue, the way he describes women - even with his prosey, immature, childish language is horrific. Something about making a prostitute cry? breaking her phone? bringing three prostitutes to a hotel room with his Dad, never using condoms? This is appalling. How did he get away with this? By being jokey and having a bit of banter? Anyone excusing this as ‘oh well he has admitted to all this before what’s new’ - needs to have a serious think!

26th in the world sounds pretty good, and what on earth has the US got to do with it?!

Brand has set his own narrative - quite a few powerful men in the past did the same. They turned out to be sex offenders. A book is not an absolute truth.

This programme should be very specific if they allege criminality.