Men and Russell Brand

[CurlewKate]

The whole Russell Brand thing just just puts a spotlight on what's happening about VAWG generally. Men are not speaking out. Men knew it was happening and did absolutely nothing. Every male comedian we laugh at and buy tickets for us complicit in this whole shit show. Part of the problem. And it's the same in society at large. Men need to step up and say "We're not having this-it reflects badly on all of us." Daniel Sloss is obviously an honourable-ish exception, although where were you last year, or the year before, Daniel? Let's stop thinking of this as something women have to fix.

Yep. The victim’s testimony in which she says a man who heard her screaming as she was (allegedly*) raped by Brand apologised to her afterwards for doing nothing has really got to me. He then wouldn’t speak to the Times. Time and again, men close ranks and protect rapists and abusers.

*added so this comment doesn’t get deleted

@GCAcademic It makes me so mad.all the women are being challenged for not going to the police. As usual. So many men turning a blind eye. As usual.

As a victim of childhood sexual abuse I feel quite sad that women don't feel comfortable going to the police, do I blame women for that no I blame the criminal justice system as a whole,the low conviction rate for rape is absolutely sickening, and even when there is a conviction the sentence is absolutely shocking, in my case I was just 15 when I told someone what was happening he got 3 years did it again whilst on the sex offenders register,in my case I can't fault the police enough I had 2 lovely female police officers who were amazing.

But I've heard stories of women and girls reporting offenses only to hear male officers sniggering in the backround ,whilst I would urge any victim to come forward and report these offences as sick people like this need to be put away for a very long time, but I understand its not that easy.

On the comments of men knowing about these crimes that is unacceptable,if someone knows something like this has happened then action needs to be taken immediately not only to safeguard the victim but also to safeguard potential other victims, one final note is sexual abuse and rape leave a lifetime of devastation for victims be it female or male,victims in many cases don't get the justice they deserve nor the support that needs to change

What does VAWG stand for?

'Violence against women and girls', I think.

I mean tonnes of men actively despise women, and others don't necessarily but also don't care enough about issues that affect us to risk their careers or whatever to stand up for us. It's sad but predictable. There will be tonnes of men (and depressingly women I expect) sticking up for him still even with the evidence. There'll be all sorts of mental gymnastics to try and say he's not that bad, it's the women's fault; its outrageous but not sure how to change this misogyny and disregard for women and girls that's so deeply ingrained.

I've seen comments on other threads being somewhat critical about victims not going to the police.

I wonder if there will be reports from women who did go to the police and weren't taken seriously or discouraged from proceeding due to RB's status?

Wonder how many reports have been made. Given the police's track record on this, are they even recorded?

At this stage, Russell Brand has only been accused. He has not been found guilty of anything yet.

He hasn't been found guilty in a court of law. But an investigative report by serious journalists has uncovered a ton of evidence against him, hence the article and documentary.

...meant to add, totally agree OP. This has so many similarities to Savile in the way large organisations covered up this open secret.

That documentary was very hard viewing.
The opening bit, with his "joke" about blow jobs, the conversation with Jimmy Saville. The evidence of his phone number and messages to his victims.
All the witnesses saying the same thing.

He's a disgusting pig and I hope the book is thrown at him.

I actually had to stop watching it. I felt sick.

VAWG is Violence Against Women And Girls.
Which is an issue men should be addressing. The RB situation highlights how much they don't.

Ah thanks, I will watch it this morning because right now I feel confused why I should feel responsible for something another men did.

To the pp who says he's not been charged with anything what kind of comment is that he called a 16 year old girl "baby doll " "child made her read from a Lolita book hes not only committed sickening offences against women I would go as far as saying he has a unhealthy interest in underage girls

@CurlewKate ,

Sorry, but your OP is a bit rich.

I could never stand the man and would never pay to see him. The audiences mostly consisted of young women laughing at his ‘comedy’ routine about things like making mascara run (during a BJ). It made me cringe to see it, not laugh.

Those who gave his vile routine air by paying to see it are those who need to maybe reflect on why they found his shtick worth paying for.

@Newbutoldfather "
Those who gave his vile routine air by paying to see it are those who need to maybe reflect on why they found his shtick worth paying for."

What about all the male comedians on the circuit who turned a blind eye to his behaviour?

I agree. It’s disgusting for anyone to let someone vulnerable be abused and do nothing.

He's just a young Donald in a black wig. No empathy and a desire for power. A thug.

@CurlewKate ,

Anyone who knew and turned a blind eye need to look back and reflect.

But the majority of the senior execs interviewed on C4 were females, not males.

If we’re playing the ‘whataboutery’ game, what about the female runner who knew what he was like, but rounded up young university students for him to have his pick of?

It’s about money and power. It’s time we all stopped venerating celebrity to the extent we do, and it’s time that greedy corporations stopped turning a blind eye to the behaviour of the ‘talent’, so long as the money is rolling in.

Funny though…TRAs have the sort of power to stop the money rolling in. What do they have that we don’t?

apart from dicks

Katherine Ryan has been trying to speak out for years but RB has huge pockets for lawyers, litigation threats and a super injunction. So they didn’t condone it, but they didn’t want to lose their houses.

'@MariePaperRoses At this stage, Russell Brand has only been accused. He has not been found guilty of anything yet.'

I am baffled that anyone who has seen the programme would make a comment like this...

The journalists and the network went ahead with it because they have all the evidence they need: text message, voice recording, testimonies...

There is no doubt whatsoever that Brand is a revolting abuser and rapist.

Brand has good lawyers and even someone like Katherine Ryan, so someone who is quite well known, felt she was unable to speak out further due to the potential threat of legal action although she had confronted him many time in person (and very likely no one at the time either colleagues or producers supported her...).

What do you think would have happened if an ordinary woman would have gone to the police about this on her own? The majority of rapes that are reported do not result in convictions and even less in charges.

That is the reality. We live in a country where rape is pretty much something that men get away with everyday.

So of course, especially after the Jimmy Saville cover ups, the best way to take him down was a collaborated effort by these media outlets because: they have access to powerful lawyers too, they have investigative resources, they can bring various victims together and the police then cannot ignore the evidence/case and will have to follow it up...

It is really staggering that you made that comment and that so many men, a quite a few women, are parroting the same line in places like Twitter.

Truly horrific and eye opening and a good example as to why and how predators like Brand get away with it: so many people just refuse to believe victims or to see rape as a serious crime.

I actually think this will open the floodgates and more women will come forward to share their story not to mention other comedians will be called out on their dodgy behaviour publicly. I think a couple of them right now are feeling quite worried...

@Newbutoldfather What about all the male comedians who turned a blind eye?