Russell Brand postpones all tour dates as ex-Channel 4 editor labels allegations as ‘MeToo’ moment for TV

Russell Model has 6.61 million subscribers on YouTube, which is about the identical quantity as he had earlier than the most recent allegations about rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse grew to become public.

It’s a sizeable viewers – just a little greater, for instance, than the extra healthful Ant and Dec can pull in for ITV on a Saturday night – and one which has clearly not been so repulsed by the claims about him to take the time to unsubscribe. Nor has Google (corporately listed as Alphabet Inc), proprietor of YouTube, seen match to “cancel” Model, who should convey them (in addition to himself) substantial revenues.

As was obvious on the very night the story broke, Model was nonetheless in a position to fill a theatre, although his efficiency was reportedly distracted. His fan base, misguided or not, are sticking with him, most remarking that he’s harmless till confirmed responsible in a courtroom of legislation – ie past cheap doubt and setting a comparatively excessive bar earlier than they withdraw their adulation.

Scandal-ridden comic. Hollywood husband. Drug addict-turned-wellness-guru. Left-wing activist. Conspiracy theorist. Over the course of 20 years within the highlight, the British stand-up and presenter Russell Model has put ahead many alternative personas to the general public. Now, one other, darker aspect to the comedian has emerged, as he has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotionally abusing 4 ladies.

Model launched a video on Saturday 17 September earlier than the allegations had been made public to disclaim “severe prison allegations” ,which he mentioned associated to his “promiscuous” previous.

The 48-year-old comic and actor mentioned he “completely refutes” the claims and advised two “mainstream media shops” had been making a “coordinated” assault in opposition to him. Later that day, a joint Sunday Occasions and Channel 4 Dispatches investigation was launched, revealing the allegations in opposition to him.

The allegations which have been made in opposition to Russell Model are “one of many MeToo moments for TV”, the previous Editor-at-Massive of Channel 4 has mentioned.

Dorothy Byrne advised Channel 4 Information: “Traditionally there was a tradition in tv of placing up with appalling behaviour by some males on the idea they’re so-called stars.”

Dame Maria Miller MP, former tradition secretary and ladies’s minister, advised non-disclosure agreements needs to be outlawed within the leisure trade if they’ve been used to silence folks over alleged incidents involving Russell Model.

She advised Sky Information’ Politics Hub that the organisations concerned ought to present “a proof as to why they didn’t have practices in place for individuals who needed to talk out”.

“I feel they’ve acquired to be held accountable for the best way they’re treating their workers,” she mentioned.

“I additionally need to dig extra into among the feedback that had been remodeled the weekend about folks not feeling nonetheless in a position to converse out about these cases and significantly feedback from each the BBC and in addition the expertise firm which made me really feel that perhaps non-disclosure agreements had been used doubtlessly resulting in folks being silenced about issues which at the moment are patently points that might be prison allegations.”

Requested whether or not using NDAs needs to be checked out, she replied: “We’ve seen not solely on this case however in different cases the place media organisations have routinely been… been utilizing trade commonplace non-disclosure secrecy provisions inside contracts that they use when folks undergo illegal wrongdoing at work. I hope this isn’t the case right here, however whether it is I hope it offers impetus to the Authorities to take motion.”

She added: “There’s been motion taken to cease use of NDAs in universities and maybe this occasion with Russell Model, if there are non-disclosure agreements concerned, would point out we have to take the identical motion to outlaw their use throughout… the leisure trade too.”

Russell Model’s writer introduced it’s “pausing” all future guide tasks with the comic after allegations of sexual assault had been made in opposition to him.

Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, has revealed Model’s titles together with Restoration: Freedom From Our Addictions and Mentors: How To Assist And Be Helped in recent times.

In a press release to the PA information company, the corporate mentioned: “These are very severe allegations and within the gentle of them, Bluebird has taken the choice to pause all future publishing with Russell Model.”

An upcoming title, Restoration: The Workbook, by the 48-year-old actor and presenter was resulting from be revealed by Bluebird in December 2025, in line with firm’s web site.

“Why are they solely speaking about this now?” “Why didn’t they report it to the police?” “Did they carry it upon themselves?” “Are they doing it for the cash?” “Is that this all only a plan to take down one other profitable man?”

It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s the president of the USA, a slapstick comedian or somebody’s brother-in-law – when ladies converse out about alleged male violence, we hear the identical, predictable responses.

Even earlier than the allegations of sexual assault and rape had been shared by The Sunday Occasions, 1000’s took to social media to criticise the ladies as liars, consideration seekers, fame-hungry, mentally ailing… even vegetation from the federal government.

Something however telling the reality.

Shortly after the discharge of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Kristen Bell advised interviewers that she needed to “intimidate” her co-star Russell Model to ensure he understood she was not involved in a sexual relationship with him throughout the shoot.

Her recollections of her time with the British actor and comic have been dredged up within the wake of allegations that he raped and sexually assaulted numerous ladies on the peak of his fame.

A joint investigation by The Occasions, The Sunday Occasions, and Channel 4 Dispatches highlighted the tales of 4 ladies — together with one who was a minor on the time — who say Model both raped or sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013. Model has denied the allegations.

Katy Perry’s short-lived relationship with Russell Model prompted a slew of headlines when the seemingly unlikely couple had been first linked again in 2009 – and much more once they broke up simply 14 months after their marriage ceremony.

The British comic, 48, has now been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse throughout the top of his fame by 4 ladies. The claims had been made in a joint investigation by The Sunday Occasions, The Occasions and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

Model has strongly denied all of the “very severe allegations” made in opposition to him, which date again to between 2006 and 2013, and has insisted that his previous relationships have been “completely at all times consensual”.

Perry, 38, has not addressed the allegations in opposition to her former husband. Nevertheless, she has spoken up to now concerning the circumstances surrounding her cut up from Model, and beforehand revealed that he referred to as time on their relationship over textual content.

Katie Rosseinsky experiences:

Russell Model provided to take his private assistant to satisfy Jimmy Savile bare in an obvious joke throughout an interview that has resurfaced following allegations in opposition to the actor.

Model has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse over a seven-year interval on the top of his fame presenting on our screens and airwaves.

On his flagship Radio 2 present in 2007, Model referred to as Savile and advised him it will “be very good someday” to satisfy the Jim’ll Repair It presenter.