Page 6 | Russell Brand

Wassapp · 2023-09-16T21:07:16+00:00

AIBU to think... 'here we go again?' Anyone watching? I've always said 'innocent until proven guilty' but also 'there is no smoke without fire'. Having been sexually assaulted myself, one of the stories seem so similar to mine. What's your thoughts? This is the most confusing post, I know. I just don't know how I feel.

fionaapple · 16/09/2023 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Victim blaming at its finest lol. Isn't hindsight a great thing? Of course a freshly 18 year old is going to want to go backstage to meet the celebrity they've gone to see live after he personally requested to see them after the show. I doubt they thought he was going to force himself upon them. It would be pretty hard to see him as a stranger too as he was so in the public eye. Its hardly the same as a supermarket cashier summoning you to their house after scanning your shopping. Even if it would've ended at a consensual one night stand, it would still have been morally wrong on his part because of his age and the power dynamics. You seem to gloss over the fact that it was rape and think that these victims have no reason to complain because they were asking for it by going backstage. Why not go the whole hog and blame all women who end up being raped on nights out because why should they be out of the house, in a position where they could tempt men to unconsensually touch their bodies!

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:33

GarlicGrace · 16/09/2023 23:25

@Livelovebehappy, quite a few young women would be happy enough for a one-nighter with a celeb. It's an adventure, a story to tell.

That does NOT equate to expecting to be treated like shit, raped, or to deserving it.

Where did it mention that any of those invited to provide their number/go to his hotel room were raped? They were treated like shit (as in discarded after they’d slept with him) because he didn’t contact them again. He didn’t make any promises of a relationship or marriage. His intentions were pretty much that he would just sleep with them, no strings attached, then send them packing. As I said, a shitty moral compass, but no different to what a lot of men do after one night stands.

fionaapple · 16/09/2023 23:35

Sureaseggs44 · 16/09/2023 23:25

Just because a person does not agree with trial by media it does not mean they do not believe the victims.

Show quote history

Alluding to it being a potential hoax to silence his political opinions suggests that they do not believe the victims.

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:36

fionaapple · 16/09/2023 23:31

Victim blaming at its finest lol. Isn't hindsight a great thing? Of course a freshly 18 year old is going to want to go backstage to meet the celebrity they've gone to see live after he personally requested to see them after the show. I doubt they thought he was going to force himself upon them. It would be pretty hard to see him as a stranger too as he was so in the public eye. Its hardly the same as a supermarket cashier summoning you to their house after scanning your shopping. Even if it would've ended at a consensual one night stand, it would still have been morally wrong on his part because of his age and the power dynamics. You seem to gloss over the fact that it was rape and think that these victims have no reason to complain because they were asking for it by going backstage. Why not go the whole hog and blame all women who end up being raped on nights out because why should they be out of the house, in a position where they could tempt men to unconsensually touch their bodies!

Show quote history

As I’ve said, nothing on the program indicated those that went back to his room had been raped. They ‘felt used’, which women do after one night stands.

CherryMaDeara · 16/09/2023 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

The victims include:

a 16yo girl who was groomed by RB into a relationship when he saw her in the office where her friend worked, and who was forced to perform oral sex on him

a woman who worked with him for years and considered him a friend until he pinned her down on his bed when he was naked and tried to force her and out his hands in her pants until she screamed.

a woman who he met at a party was raped in his flat and who went to the rape centre and texted him to say she was scared of him and no means no.

Why do you keep minimising their experiences and what he did? Why focus on the women who went backstage?

Original poster

Wassapp · 16/09/2023 23:37

ICanBuyMyOwnBooks · 16/09/2023 23:24

I'm angry at the way the media has cynically used these women's stories to try to drum up publicity over the last 24 hours. I'm angry at the idiots suggesting RB had a three-year-plan to discredit the MSM - he doesn't have to - his fans will support him regardless. Unless there is a conviction and jail, people will always find ways to excuse alleged abusive behaviour. And even if there is a conviction and jail, there will still be people willing to excuse men and blame women. We know all this. Channel 4 knows all this. I'm exhausted by the entire circus. Because precisely nothing will change except RB's fans will think he is definitely credible in what he says about the MSM; and the women will be hounded and abused further. And Channel 4 will pat itself on the back whilst ignoring all the skeletons in its own cupboard and not asking the questions about why this keeps happening. And the culture of sexism and abuse on the comedy circuit will be completely unchanged.
And women all over the country will be sitting in their trauma, remembering when similar has happened to them - and the biggest lesson from this is that society doesn't care.

Right.

So what's your stance on all of this?

OP posts:

trythisforsize · 16/09/2023 23:38

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:33

Where did it mention that any of those invited to provide their number/go to his hotel room were raped? They were treated like shit (as in discarded after they’d slept with him) because he didn’t contact them again. He didn’t make any promises of a relationship or marriage. His intentions were pretty much that he would just sleep with them, no strings attached, then send them packing. As I said, a shitty moral compass, but no different to what a lot of men do after one night stands.

Show quote history

I imagine that these university aged women were untraceable by Dispatches but I have little doubt that they may feel empowered to come forward if anything sinister took place now that it's in the public eye. I strongly suspect there's a lot more to come.

TaraRhu · 16/09/2023 23:40

I hope more than just Russel brand are held accountable for this. He was asex addict. He wasn't reformed but in the middle of an addiction. So tv geniuses thought it would be good to get runners to hand out his number,to let him have sex multiple times at work, expose himself... etc. They knew he had issues but put him in a place where he could service his addictions. Obviously he is accountable. But so are all these background figures. Exceptionally dangerous of them to put him on these shows where he had access to unlimited targets. Then they never called him out? Appalling.

CarpetSlipper · 16/09/2023 23:40

I’m not watching the documentary but RB has never pretended not to be a scummy sex pest and predator. He’s always been absolutely repulsive. This is not surprising. What is shocking is that he has been allowed to get away with it for so long.

Original poster

Wassapp · 16/09/2023 23:43

TaraRhu · 16/09/2023 23:40

I hope more than just Russel brand are held accountable for this. He was asex addict. He wasn't reformed but in the middle of an addiction. So tv geniuses thought it would be good to get runners to hand out his number,to let him have sex multiple times at work, expose himself... etc. They knew he had issues but put him in a place where he could service his addictions. Obviously he is accountable. But so are all these background figures. Exceptionally dangerous of them to put him on these shows where he had access to unlimited targets. Then they never called him out? Appalling.

Exactly right.

As in any organisation, people should be 'safeguarded.'

These poor ladies were not.

OP posts:

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:44

CherryMaDeara · 16/09/2023 23:37

The victims include:

a 16yo girl who was groomed by RB into a relationship when he saw her in the office where her friend worked, and who was forced to perform oral sex on him

a woman who worked with him for years and considered him a friend until he pinned her down on his bed when he was naked and tried to force her and out his hands in her pants until she screamed.

a woman who he met at a party was raped in his flat and who went to the rape centre and texted him to say she was scared of him and no means no.

Why do you keep minimising their experiences and what he did? Why focus on the women who went backstage?

Show quote history

The victims were not members of the audience. If you read my post you will see that I was discussing the part of the program where Brand was inviting people back stage, or asking for numbers. The victims obviously don’t fall into that category. And as I’ve also said, the rapes and sexual assault allegations are absolutely abhorrent, but women invited back stage had the option of saying no. Surely no woman is so naïve that she would really have thought he was inviting them back to his hotel room for tea and biscuits?

StBrides · 16/09/2023 23:46

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:36

As I’ve said, nothing on the program indicated those that went back to his room had been raped. They ‘felt used’, which women do after one night stands.

Show quote history

Do they indeed?

One night stands can be a lot of fun when they take place with mutual respect, consideration and consent.

If people come away feeling used then there's something wrong with how they've been treated.

And let's leave the ancient sexism about women's feelings towards sex in the 20thc shall we?

StBrides · 16/09/2023 23:47

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:44

The victims were not members of the audience. If you read my post you will see that I was discussing the part of the program where Brand was inviting people back stage, or asking for numbers. The victims obviously don’t fall into that category. And as I’ve also said, the rapes and sexual assault allegations are absolutely abhorrent, but women invited back stage had the option of saying no. Surely no woman is so naïve that she would really have thought he was inviting them back to his hotel room for tea and biscuits?

Show quote history

I think you're naive if you believe teenagers and young woman are not so naive as to believe they're special to a star who singles them out.

StBrides · 16/09/2023 23:48

TaraRhu · 16/09/2023 23:40

I hope more than just Russel brand are held accountable for this. He was asex addict. He wasn't reformed but in the middle of an addiction. So tv geniuses thought it would be good to get runners to hand out his number,to let him have sex multiple times at work, expose himself... etc. They knew he had issues but put him in a place where he could service his addictions. Obviously he is accountable. But so are all these background figures. Exceptionally dangerous of them to put him on these shows where he had access to unlimited targets. Then they never called him out? Appalling.

Sex addiction is not a reason for rape or sexual assault.

Believe it or not, promiscuity can run free with respect and consent.

tolerable · 16/09/2023 23:50

triggering af. espedcially co the hype. what purpose-collaboratively them coulda surely reported to police.or swept under carpet. as oppose to the already known theory-its not who ya are its who you know.
who will suffer from this?i did watching.fuckin pointless

trythisforsize · 16/09/2023 23:53

In fact, sex addiction is not a recognised diagnosis.

BananaHammock23 · 16/09/2023 23:54

I met RB years ago for work and we were one on one for a few hours. I have always maintained that he had an 'energy' (and I hate to use that word!) about him that I've never come across before. He felt oppressive and dark, he was condescending and rude, but in a way that made you a bit bashful. Very hard to explain when it's just a feeling. I've never felt like that about anyone else. I have absolutely no doubt that he is guilty of all accounts, and many more I imagine.

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:55

StBrides · 16/09/2023 23:46

Do they indeed?

One night stands can be a lot of fun when they take place with mutual respect, consideration and consent.

If people come away feeling used then there's something wrong with how they've been treated.

And let's leave the ancient sexism about women's feelings towards sex in the 20thc shall we?

Show quote history

Oh come on. So a couple that meet as strangers in a pub, then leave with each other and have sex have mutual respect and consideration for each other? That’s bollocks. One party might see it that way, but you can bet they’re both not feeling like that. A lot of one night stands are after a booze filled night, just acting in the moment. And quite often regretted the next day. It would be nice to think there’s mutual respect and consideration, but the reality is that for the most part, there isn’t.

Fifireee · 17/09/2023 00:00

He knew this was coming which was why he switched to being a conspiracy theorist - straight out of trumps playbook. He’ll say it’s all a plot by mainstream media.

Jap26 · 17/09/2023 00:02

I don't understand why the programme was shown, surely that will undermine any police investigation and subsequent trial. I'm surprised the producers didn't have a duty of care to direct these woman to the police before making the documentary.

StHilarion · 17/09/2023 00:02

Never liked him or his persona, total sleaze merchant that made a living from demeaning women and shock jocking. But a lot of the public that now say differently lapped him up. He was a minor celebrity on the tele and he took advantage of starstruck naive fans, of which I am sure the majority were willing participants. I have no doubt that there were many many encounters that were not totally consensual. But on what I have just watched I don’t think there is enough evidence for a conviction. My heartfelt sympathy to all hurt by his actions

CherryMaDeara · 17/09/2023 00:02

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:44

The victims were not members of the audience. If you read my post you will see that I was discussing the part of the program where Brand was inviting people back stage, or asking for numbers. The victims obviously don’t fall into that category. And as I’ve also said, the rapes and sexual assault allegations are absolutely abhorrent, but women invited back stage had the option of saying no. Surely no woman is so naïve that she would really have thought he was inviting them back to his hotel room for tea and biscuits?

Show quote history

But why have you fixated on these women?

The program explained that the reason why this was included was to show that women were treated as indispensable and used for sex.

Can you not see how members of the audience may be lulled into a false sense of security when approached by a member of staff to meet RB?

As one of the workers says: ‘it creates an environment of permission, which can then snowball into things that are more serious’.

RB then moved onto a junior member of staff, so things escalated.

trythisforsize · 17/09/2023 00:04

Jap26 · 17/09/2023 00:02

I don't understand why the programme was shown, surely that will undermine any police investigation and subsequent trial. I'm surprised the producers didn't have a duty of care to direct these woman to the police before making the documentary.

Hmmmm, I don't think women trust the police much anymore

Can't think why

StBrides · 17/09/2023 00:10

Livelovebehappy · 16/09/2023 23:55

Oh come on. So a couple that meet as strangers in a pub, then leave with each other and have sex have mutual respect and consideration for each other? That’s bollocks. One party might see it that way, but you can bet they’re both not feeling like that. A lot of one night stands are after a booze filled night, just acting in the moment. And quite often regretted the next day. It would be nice to think there’s mutual respect and consideration, but the reality is that for the most part, there isn’t.

Show quote history

Seriously.

All sexual encounters should take place with mutual respect and consideration. This doesn't mean professions of love but it does mean treating each other with civility, being mindful of each other's enthusiam/enjoyment/consent etc.

That's just basics.

Chocolatchip · 17/09/2023 00:23

His behaviour has been openly spoken about in certain industries for years. No one ever had the proof to go public though until this investigation which I believe took several years.

He only got into conspiracy theories to feed his ego because no one else will employ him after all he did

And because he knows conspiracy theorists are stupid enough to stand by him perhaps?

Or maybe he's just mad?

I don't know but I have zero respect for those defending him.