Shappi Khorsandi says Brand raped her friend

[SidmouthSummer]

This interview of Shappi Khorsandi discussing Brand is interesting to watch.
She describes his unpleasant character in the first few minutes.
At 9 mins in she says Brand doesn't understand consent.
At 9:43 she says he raped her friend.

Oh my god, Shappi Khorsandi, you are so fabulous. I was moved by everything you said, not just about Brand but about the industry you are in. You spoke so powerfully about the impact of the assaults and harrassment you have suffered. And you spoke so powerfully about how you have scrutinised your own way of navigating the presence of abusive and complicit people.

If only the fucking abusers had scrutinised themselves. Typical that it is women's work to turn such a radiant psychological spotlight on the whole mess. The male comedians who rape and assault and harrass and smirk don't feel any responsibility to do the accounts on their own behaviour -- they just add it to the mental load that women carry. I bet they are fucking terrible in their family lives about taking responsibility for anything at all.
{ETA apologies for cringey use of second person in first para. When I litened to the interview in the link I had an instinct to tweet at her. Then I remembered I don't swim in that sewer anymore ,and I thought, 'well she might well be on MN so I will quasi-tweet her here'

When I first posted earlier, I hadn't watched the interview all the way through. I stopped 3/4 through and posted on here about it, then meant to continue watching the rest but got distracted by my DC. Anyhow I have just returned and watched the rest and I didn't realise that towards the end Shappi reveals her own sexual assault by a comedian. She doesn't say the word, but from what she says, it sounds like she is describing rape by a well known comedian (she states it is not Brand).

Shappi if @Voltaroldemort is right and maybe you might be on mumsnet, I absolutely bloody love you for speaking out like this. And I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Watched Shappi’s interview last night. Bloody hell, Shappi I am so sorry you have experienced that. I am so glad I never liked Brand, he always seemed so disgusting and sleazy (and not funny). I don’t doubt more will come out.

There's no link showing - could you try again?

Sorry I'm so crap at tech.

https://inforrm.org/2015/11/03/case-law-brand-v-berki-summary-judgment-granted-in-harassment-claim/

Now Russell Brand's been convicted of rape, we need to talk about Sylvie Berki. Because she can't speak for herself.

In 2014, Ms Berki said she'd been assaulted by Russell Brand.

But if she talks about it, even now, she risks jail.

Why?

Because Brand (and his then-girlfriend, Jemima Goldsmith) obtained a permanent, life-long, injunction against her.

Brand/Goldsmith said Ms Berki's accusations amounted to harassment, which caused them "anxiety and distress".

We can't see the final injunction, but we can see an interim injunction. It is insane. Berki was forbidden from telling anyone. The only exceptions: Thames Valley Police (to challenge its decision), and lawyers (if involved in the proceedings).

How could this be granted?

Because Ms Berki had no legal representation. Mr Brand had plenty.

You won't find a copy of the judgment anywhere - it was a summary judgment, without a trial. Ms Berki had no representation.

The judge apparently relied on inconsistencies in Berki's changing account and his assessment of her motives.

But how could he assess her credibility and motives, without hearing her evidence tested at trial?

Particularly when she had no lawyer? inforrm.org/2015/11/03/case-law-brand-v-berki-summary-judgment-granted-in-harassment-claim/

This was basically a nasty legal trick. Brand initially threatened libel. But libel law almost never lets you get an interim injunction to silence someone. So Brand's lawyers turned it into a harassment claim. It would never have worked if Ms Berki had had a lawyer.

So what precisely did Ms Berki allege? There's little in the UK press. But there was extensive coverage in the Hungarian press: 24.hu/szorakozas/2014/08/04/vilagsztar-akarta-szexre-kenyszeriteni-szilviat

I don't know if her accusations are true. But I do know Ms Berki should be able to talk about it. A police refusal to prosecute should not result in state-imposed silence.

I doubt Ms Berki has the resources to apply to lift the injunction. She probably can't crowdfund without breaching the injunction. So we'll never hear from her.

Unless...

Witnesses to Parliamentary Committees have absolute parliamentary immunity.

If the House of Women and Equalities Committee called Ms Berki as a witness then she'd be unconstrained by the injunction.

And, for the first time in eleven years, we could hear her side of the story.

It is from this account - I think it is important to credit the people that are shining a light on this.

But if this is true then it shows again how the establishment has been complicit, and how money eases the way.

Hopefully a long jail term.

Have you no sympathy for those already in jail?

Following

Depends on their crime I guess.

Jenima Khan has apparently said she would allow the injunction to be overturned. But they would need Brand to agree to it as well.

This doesn't put her in a good light at all.

The way Shappi describes the effects of 90s/00s lad/ette culture is absolutely spot on, and really hard to listen to as a woman of a similar age who worked in the entertainment industry back then.

I really hope her friend was aware she was going to say that as some scummy fuckers on Twitter/x are trying to work out who her friend is.

The final order is absolutely horrifying.

To have an injunction that stops someone discussing a crime with even the police is barbaric.

And if it’s true the process happened without her having a lawyer then the judge who handled it needs hauled over the coals

Eye opening interview

Surely now he’s a convicted criminal means it could now be overturned without his say so?
Or does a prisoner maintain that right?

I do know the law is a strange beast though.

I was just reading about this - it is shocking (on a number of levels, I can’t understand how the injunction was approved) and deserves publicity.

I’m hoping a benefactor will come forward to pay for legal advice to challenge the injunction.

Im glad you posted this.
I watched it on YouTube & came to see if anyone else had put it up.
That was really powerful.
I expect there are several comedians/entertainers with their arses twitching right now.
If it can happen to RB.......
DW next? 🤔

The judge has to look at the case in front of him whether or not those involved have appointed lawyers. On that angle, I don’t know what he could have done differently.

I agree the final order seems absolutely draconian!

NF too, I’m fairly certain.

What was Jemima Khan thinking of because she must have heard all the rumours and knew what he was like?

I blame him first of course but she had a part in this, not a supporting role like Laura Brand. Her name is on this court action as much as his.

I’m hoping a benefactor will come forward to pay for legal advice to challenge the injunction.

Me too. JK Rowling maybe?