The allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by comedian and actor Russell Brand seemed like a bombshell scoop to many readers and viewers. But for the journalists at The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, the publication of their report was the result of four years of reporting, investigating and fact checking.
The claims related to four alleged victims from 2006-13, when Brand was at the height of his fame. Pre-empting the release of the Channel 4 documentary and the Sunday Times splash, Brand posted a video denying the allegations and stating that all his previous relationships were consensual.
Brand, who has amassed a following of over 6.5 million with his videos on wellness, politics and conspiracy theories, criticised the “mainstream media” and claimed he was a victim of a “coordinated attack” by those wanting to silence him. He ended by questioning whether there was “another agenda at play”.
