Dispatches . Russel brand .

[fabmaccawhackythumbsaloft]

I actually like Russel brand . And I don't think he's ever hidden what he used to be in his heyday. He's always been very open about his drug use, and promiscuity.

I read his first book . I watch his videos on fb , and while I don't always agree with him, he seems to have totally overhauled his lifestyle, attitudes, is into yoga, self care, seems to be a decent husband and father .

Is this newsworthy ? Young famous comedian in heyday slept with lots and lots of women , consensually he says ?

Hes never hidden it.

On drug misuse I alWays had time for his views that it should be dealt with as a medical issue not a criminal one

What's the news story ?
I always feel like there is much glee and salivating before the media try and knock someone down.
I don't think this is a huw edwards where people would be shocked at him trying to pick up young women behind his wife's back

It seems that brand has settled down , lives a fairly mundane lifestyle and is happy with his choices .

Or am I completely missing something?

It is provable. There are medical records, multiple witness accounts, text messages from him to his victims apologising. Your faith in our justice system when it comes to the rape of women is kind of sweet.

Age old story of one man’s testimony carries the weight of ten women. I wish girls were taught to recognise misogyny in all its forms in school - we wouldn’t have so many grown women throwing their sisters under a bus and making excuses for rapists.

I really can't believe some of the comments on this thread. It's been an open secret that RB was an abuser for years. I was shocked about Hew, but Phillip and Russell - nope, it's been hinted at openly in the press for a long time.

This thread is a great example of why women don't come forward and why men aren't prosecuted successfully. I really thought Mumsnet was better informed than 'it's of it's time' and 'she should have reported it'. I hope these women finally get some kind of justice for what they have been put through and perhaps a light is shone on powerful men and their facilitated abuses.

And I do really like Kathryn Ryan . Seems this open secret was anything but a secret .

I dont know how anyone can read the text exchange between RB & Nadia and then suggest she made it up. She literally says "when a girl says no it means no" and he doesnt attempt to suggest it was consensual just that he wants to make it up to her and he's embarrassed.

Personally I admire an OP who can say "ok, I got it wrong" when presented with evidence they hadn't seen. I do think there was an element of internalised misogyny about your initial reaction, but that's something we all have from early childhood to one extent or another - all we can do is recognise it, challenge it and try to do better. It's not something you should be vilified for.

That text exchange is damning . He's been quick to try and get in first with his denials and sadly that's all that is all over the mainstream media. Not the details of the allegations.

Again I'm sorry I hadn't been in possession of the facts when I began the thread but I'm glad I did post because more informed people than me were .

This case is really reminding me of the journalism used when exposing Harvey Weinstein. It was made into a brilliant film and the reluctance to report is well depicted. Anyone questioning why she didn't go to the police or report it at the time might like to watch 'She said'

Thank you greensleeves

I do feel slightly foolish but I'm glad someone posted the times piece .

I didn’t mean lose. I mean broadcast things that are merely allegations that are later proven to be not true. Their risk is virtually nonexistent.

U.K. based media is almost untouchable the way the laws are in this country. They have journalistic privilege and almost always win with the ‘honest opinion’ defence even if what they published is proven to be categorically untrue. To win at defamation, it’s not enough to prove published allegations are untrue, it has to be proven that the news outlet reporting them knew they were untrue at the time of publication which is almost impossible to prove.

At the same time, let's not take this as some kind of public service announcement.

For every post like this, every tweet, someone (and you can put money on it being a a woman) somewhere, is made to feel like a piece of promiscuous, weak, unsisterly cowardly shit.

This is 2023. It's not about evidence unseen, it's about ignoring it, because it feels better.

So, I will wait for the result of any criminal proceedings.

It is a good thing and I think the thread should stay, just don't be surprised that people have gone for you. Imagine your OP 20 years ago but replace the name with Jimmy Saville. You have done your research and apologised- that's great - but it is clear why you've caused anger.

I fucking loathe Russell Brand. Sorry. Just had to put that out there

He has a right to a fair trial.

Seeing clips of him with Katy Perry - of course they could be cut to put him in a bad light, but this was years before today’s story. He just seems arrogant, absolutely loves himself, women throw themselves at him, I don’t think he’s respectful or a keeper! Katy was reportedly suicidal after breaking up, no idea if it’s true.

He probably flatters women to get them in to bed, then I can just imagine him saying sarcastic things after, putting you down etc, would say ‘oh I don’t mean it, I’m teasing’. He’s a ‘bad boy’ I personally wouldn’t want him anywhere near me!

Haha you'll be waiting a while. It is legal for powerful men to rape women. Have you not been paying attention?

Fuck his rights. The 16 year old kid he choked with his before forcing her to swallow his spit - what about her right to be heard? To be believed?

alanbrazil that's not what I was doing .

I had not despite googling found the times article .

I had formed an initial impression without the allegations.

Now I've seen them , I've changed my opinion.

I am happy to wait. Funny you mention Jimmy Saville who was convicted and sent to prison and then say it’s legal to rape. It isn’t legal.

You're completely missing that he's been accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women.

No wonder women don't bother reporting rape. Not only are they let down by sexist police officers, they then have to contend with the absolute ignorance in this thread.

So fucking fed up of people leaping to defend shitty, famous men.

He is a dirty disgusting piece of shit.

"You have the right to a fair and public trial or hearing if:

• you are charged with a criminal offence and have to go to court, or
• a public authority is making a decision that has a impact upon your civil rights or obligations."

https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/human-rights-act/article-6-right-fair-trial

Neither of those currently apply so actually no, he doesn't have a right to a fair trial and the concept is irrelevant.

Moxie

Savilles crimes didn't come to light till after his death - he most certainly was not sent to prison !!

Aye @fabmaccawhackythumbsaloft if only it was so easy for victims to speak out and be belived, esp against celebrities. Fucking hell. Women need to be backing women. Men are top and always will be so we will always have the 'why didn't she go to the police/speak out at the time/say no' narrative. Men need to be changing their behaviour to stop such accusations

Ok @usernc1636943585458 trial by mn then? Trial by press? What’s your point?