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.

The Times article was a sobering read. Whilst those around him may not have been aware of the extent of his crimes, it again seems like an industry which turned a blind eye in order to protect the talent.

Cue the conspiracy twits saying it is the establishment trying to bring him down, because he is "telling the truth" about whatever it is he goes on about.

Disgusting man

And maybe you might want to reflect on why I may have found you replying to a post that asked us not to put the feelings of rapists ahead of those they have raped in a way that read as if what you were saying is “actually it wasn’t a rape” triggering.

There are all kinds of rapes that society doesn’t class as “real” rapes. An oral rape is not less of a rape than any other kind.

Maybe we could all do with being a bit more mindful of other’s feelings on a thread like this. It’s incredibly disturbing to see so many posts equating rape and promiscuity. I accept that may have made me snappier than I should have been, when you were actually trying to make a broader point about victim-
led terminology.

Bloody hell, I’ve read some things but that drool story made me put the phone down for a bit. That poor girl. ☹️

a 30 year old famous man & a 16 year old girl recovering from an eating disorder, who has never had a boyfriend.....she didn't stand a chance. It's so difficult to protect girls from older men who feel this is acceptable. It's not ok

There are some serious allegations in there - particularly regarding the 16 year old which need to be investigated. But frankly it reads exactly like a serious and extensive hit piece that someone would make up on someone who has said specific stuff that has seriously pissed off the wrong people.

He may well have outlived his industry usefulness (being a money spinner) and thereby lost his former power. I remember reading similar about Weinstein - another terrible 'open secret'. That doesn't mean the allegations aren't true just that he's lost what former protection he had.

It's terrible for victims that it so often works that way in big industries and they have to wait for decades or even the death of their abuser for the abuse to come to light and receive some form of justice.

He may well have outlived his industry usefulness (being a money spinner) and thereby lost his former power.

Depressingly true.

@OvaHere there are some serious allegations in there - particularly regarding the 16 year old which need to be investigated. But frankly it reads exactly like a serious and extensive hit piece that someone would make up on someone who has said specific stuff that has seriously pissed off the wrong people.

I agree. Until I don’t see any real police reports this is all “trial by media”, a news group that needs juicy stories to fill their pages and a Sunday Times that needs more paid subscribers. women who get sexually assaulted and go to a magazine instead to the police have a very bad name and little credibility in my eyes.

Open secret? From what source did you find out?

This is an utterly shameful post. Appalling.

It is depressing because there are definitely people who will protect the talent at all costs on the way up and then use that same knowledge to take them down when they want to get shut.

It makes it even harder for victims because they have even less control over their own narrative. There will probably be people speaking out over the next days and weeks who could have taken a stance at the time but didn't because they were financially invested in Brand.

women who get sexually assaulted and go to a magazine instead to the police have a very bad name and little credibility in my eyes

a) how do we know they didn't go to the police?

b) if you don't know how the police often treat women reporting rape and sexual assault, especially involving famous men, you haven't been paying attention

The bold bit isn't my post. I was quoting someone else.

The money he makes is direct now I assume. No need for producers and teams to hide talent behaviour

Not sure if he’ll get taken off platforms or just keep gaining followers

Have you read the article? You quite like him?!

In my head I read that thread title in the voice of Jim McDonald from Corrie

Dispatches put out a preview video

https://twitter.com/C4Dispatches/status/1703066270797541715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1703066270797541715%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=

@beatrix1234
So earlier you were all.. Until I read the news article I'm going to presume it's a bullshit story about a blokey bloke who likes to take coke and shag about. When I pointed out to you that it was Russell Brand who brought up the fact it was going to be a sexual assault allegation you backtracked and said you wanted to read the victim's account, fair enough I guess but now.. you read about a school girl being sexually assaulted by a man in his 30s your go to response is.. prove it or she's lying.
It must be nice to live in a world where you believe women number one feel comfortable enough to even engage with the police and number two that you think going to the police makes any difference.
We live in a country where rape is practically legal. Believe women.

I'm glad that the Times has broken this story and in doing so recognises these women's voices.

I was sexually assaulted as a child by a family friend, a doctor. I never reported him to the police and nor would I now, there's no evidence and I wouldn't want to upset my family who would probably feel they should have protected me better. I can fully understand why these women wouldn't have felt they could say anything.

Unfortunately this is really really common.

If you had read The Times article, you would know that one victim did report it: evidence was frozen but she was advised that she basically didn't stand a chance of being taken seriously because of his profile.

The others only came forward once approached by journalists and none of them know each other. One has evidence in the form of text messages from Brand which has been independently verified from other sources as having come from his mobile.

I think the fact it's The Times and not The Sun should add some weight to this investigation. I hope his victims are being well supported.

@Superfood if its unclear I'm in agreement with you and was further responding to @beatrix1234