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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Russell Brand

1000 replies

Wassapp · 16/09/2023 22:07

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.

OP posts:
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12
Anotherrname · 17/09/2023 03:43

Panaa · 17/09/2023 03:34

@Anotherrname
A 16+ teen with an adult is an uncomfortable age gap, but not unheard of eg Diana was 16 when she started hanging out with King Charles who was in his 30s and Aaron Johnson was 17 when he was groomed by Samantha Taylor, a woman in her 40s.

Both those examples are problematic so I don't get what you mean by uncomfortable age gap but not unheard of.
We know it's not unheard of for adults to groom teenagers, or at the very least for them to take advantage due to the age gap.

Edited

I meant that Charles and Samantha and others need to receive the same treatment. Brand isn't the only one who dated younger but above the age of consent people. There are also many celebs who've groomed underage teens.

Panaa · 17/09/2023 04:12

Anotherrname · 17/09/2023 03:43

I meant that Charles and Samantha and others need to receive the same treatment. Brand isn't the only one who dated younger but above the age of consent people. There are also many celebs who've groomed underage teens.

Show quote history

Ah ok, I thought you were saying it wasn't that bad but then you listed those examples so I was confused.

I agree but Charles will never receive the same treatment. I never heard of the others you mentioned so I'm not sure what the public opinion is.
"Alice" is right that the law should be changed to protect those under 18.
Even 18+ year olds can be vulnerable but unfortunately nothing could be done with the law there.

MidnightMeltdown · 17/09/2023 04:18

Brand isn't the only one who dated younger but above the age of consent people. There are also many celebs who've groomed underage teens.

I'm not sure that 'dated' is the correct term for what RB was doing with some of these young girls. I'm not excusing Charles, but I think that there's a difference between a real relationship and marriage and what RB was up to.

QueenRainbow · 17/09/2023 05:02

Yeah but wasn’t she a young teen? And the size isn’t really the point.

QueenRainbow · 17/09/2023 05:08

Sorry comment above was regarding his pen!s size. He has always given me the ick.

WhalePolo · 17/09/2023 05:41

Anyone defending RB with “oh it’s because he’s anti establishment” “trial by media” “they’ve come for him because he challenged the narrative” type argument.

If it’s ok for RB to accuse others of wrong doing on his platform (which would also be classed as trial by media), why is it not ok for another platform to accuse him of wrong doing?

If he and his fans are champions of free speech - this is how free speech works. If RB is allowed a voice and to make allegations, these women are allowed a voice too. If he/his fans want to deny them a voice, or then assert that their voice can only heard through certain channels/or be censored - then it’s hypocrisy.

Museya15 · 17/09/2023 06:12

If you're a millennial, you wont have much experience of this behaviour from men but I remember Russell and the others and to me and some of my generation, he was just a LAD. I'm glad this generation has caught on and see men like this as sleaze.

dontletsaskforthemoon · 17/09/2023 06:26

trythisforsize · 16/09/2023 23:23

This is exactly how I viewed the whole thing too.

And to the person saying 'surely the girls invited backstage could have said no' - well I don't suppose they thought they would be sexually coerced or assaulted in a Ch4 studio. They should never have been invited by the crew into a situation that Ch4 knew was very risky.
AND - if these girls rang the studio in tears why on earth did the crew carry on facilitating Brand's predatory behaviour?
Ch4 are guilty as hell.

Show quote history

Absolutely agree. C4 need to be made accountable too. They continued to allow the behaviour despite being made aware of it!!

Oysterbabe · 17/09/2023 06:27

Of course what these are saying is true. In general, I believe women about this sort of thing. I'm sure it comes as a surprise to no one. In fact any sex scandal about any male celebrity comes as no surprise. They all mostly care about their dicks. Add a bit of ego and the opportunities afforded by celebrity and I'm more surprised that every one of them isn't abusing women in some way.

PureAmazonian · 17/09/2023 06:28

Eloradannin2nd · 16/09/2023 22:43

I think he’s been playing the long game with his YouTube channel. Banging on about how the mainstream media cannot be trusted and portraying himself as the great truth teller.

Now these revelations are out, he just has to say that it’s the MSM getting their revenge for his views.

Ive seen posts on here today saying it’s because he’s so political and controversial that the media are turning against him.

I don’t think for a minute he believes half of the tripe he spouts on you tube. My DH occasionally watches him, I can’t stand to listen.

He's been setting this up for years.

AdrianeMole · 17/09/2023 06:31

I put up with all sorts of what I now know to be coercive encounters in my youth. I'm so glad that young women today can know that this isn't OK and hopefully men will be more scared to do this knowing that they can be punished. Let's protect each other and our daughters.

TrishM80 · 17/09/2023 06:32

He's always given me the creeps.

He always looks like he could do with a good wash, shave and haircut, and his popularity with women has always been an immense source of mystery to me.

GP78 · 17/09/2023 06:34

PureAmazonian · 17/09/2023 06:28

He's been setting this up for years.

Show quote history

This investigation has taken years, I think he's been aware of it for a long time and has been preparing for this. He looked shit scared in his statement denying all claims 🤔

NonMiDispiace · 17/09/2023 06:39

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.

So these ….. tv geniuses and runners… were effectively nothing more than pimps….
The whole set up is beyond sick and perverted.

RosaKim · 17/09/2023 06:53

Anotherrname · 17/09/2023 03:26

I think the American woman's allegation of rape is very serious and hopefully the police are investigating this and the woman had/has support. However, I don't like how the main bulk of the TV programme was 'look how many one night stands Brand had. How sleazy.' It's already well known that he used to have sex with loads of women. Asking TV runners to hand out your phone number to adult audience members is hardly the same as Saville abusing underage children. A 16+ teen with an adult is an uncomfortable age gap, but not unheard of eg Diana was 16 when she started hanging out with King Charles who was in his 30s and Aaron Johnson was 17 when he was groomed by Samantha Taylor, a woman in her 40s.

Agree with this.

Mistressanne · 17/09/2023 06:56

verdantverdure · 17/09/2023 02:42

I tend to place the responsibility for rape on the rapists myself.

Show quote history

So do I but I wouldn’t put a chicken in with a fox!

C4tastrophe · 17/09/2023 06:58

NonMiDispiace · 17/09/2023 06:39

So these ….. tv geniuses and runners… were effectively nothing more than pimps….
The whole set up is beyond sick and perverted.

Show quote history

Yep.
”Farmer opens hen house door and puts fox in with chickens. Farmer denies all responsibility for subsequent fox/chicken activity. “How was I to know?” Says farmer.”

Chunkyandchico · 17/09/2023 06:59

I watched five minutes, then had to turn it off because if was too triggering.

I know that energy. My stbxh has it, and it is dangerous. It is coercive and controlling and, if you are sucked in, it takes away any shred of consent.

I have spent years trying to find a label for stbxh, maybe narcissist, sociopath?

But it is clear that there is a pattern for people like him and RB. Sex addict, bollocks. It's just him saying "I can't help it, it's just who I am. I've always been like this", and people falling for it every time, because they find him funny, exciting and they feel sorry for him.

RB is dangerous.

Chunkyandchico · 17/09/2023 07:00

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.

Sorry, meant to quote @BananaHammock23

ArtG · 17/09/2023 07:04

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.

Unless he’s unwise enough to bring an action for defamation, I don’t think he’s unlikely to be seeing the inside of a courtroom on the allegations in the show. I’ve thought a lot about why Despatches chose this subject to begin with and concluded that there are other victims on whom a successful prosecution could be built who they (Depatches) know about and hope will now be encouraged to come forward. I also think allegations about others in the industry will have been turned up during the investigation, giving rise to a metoo moment. I’m a fan of due process and have real qualms about trial by media but if it leads to actual justice for victims then I guess the ends justify the means.

Sausagenbacon · 17/09/2023 07:04

Why are you all so invested in this? I've always found RB creepy, and I'm not surprised at this, but why not wait until he's proven guilty?

NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 17/09/2023 07:06

Ego with hair. I’m surprised people are shocked.

oakleaffy · 17/09/2023 07:07

ArtCollection · 16/09/2023 22:17

I gave zero doubt he's a sexual predator. Another one in plain sight.

The allegations are really unpleasant.
What a creep.

C4tastrophe · 17/09/2023 07:09

NeunundneunzigHorseBallonz · 17/09/2023 07:06

Ego with hair. I’m surprised people are shocked.

It should have been advertised as ‘The least surprising story this year’.

Zebdya · 17/09/2023 07:10

MetaverseMavis · 17/09/2023 02:32

To me the most astounding information was 16 yr old Alice telling her mum she met 30yr old RB and her mother allowing the date to happen and on another occasion driving her to RBs home and allowing her 16yr old to stay over with him. What shockingly poor judgement by the mother. Who enabled RB with her lack of boundaries for her daughter

It was 17 years ago. I don’t know how old you are, but let me assure you it’s a different world now. Sex between teenagers and older men was common, people would have gossiped about it but nobody would have thought about it being illegal or considered calling the authorities. I often look back at my own life and think there were several situations in which the police should have been involved (nowadays I wouldn’t hesitate to report, but back then it was different).

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