The publisher of one of Russell Brand’s books has said that it is pausing all future publishing of books by the comedian after he was accused of rape and sexual assault.
Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, who were due to publish one of Brand’s books in December said: “These are very serious allegations and in the light of them, Bluebird has taken the decision to pause all future publishing with Russell Brand,” reported The Bookseller.
Brand’s unpublished book – Recovery: The Workbook: A Practical Guide to Finding Freedom from Our Addictions – is a follow-up to the comedian’s 2017 self-help book Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions, which is based on the 12-step programme. Bluebird told the Guardian it would not comment beyond its statement, and the publisher did not respond when asked whether it would continue publishing Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions. The book is still listed on the publisher’s website.
Brand’s first book, a 2007 memoir called My Booky Wook, is published by Hodder & Stoughton, an imprint of Hachette. When asked whether the company will continue publishing the memoir, Hodder & Stoughton told the Guardian: “We have no further plans to work with Russell Brand. My Booky Wook is currently on sale.”
His 2014 politics book, Revolution, was published by Arrow, an imprint of Penguin. The title is still listed on Penguin’s website and the publisher has not yet responded when asked whether it would continue to publish the title.
A joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published on Saturday revealed that four women have alleged that Brand sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013. On Friday, Brand denied the claims in an online video, stating that all his relationships had been consensual. He accused the media of a “coordinated attack”.
According to the Sunday Times, in 2020, one of the women – who alleges that Brand assaulted her when she was 16 and still at school – reported Brand’s behaviour to his literary agent, Angharad Wood, who co-founded Tavistock Wood, owned by the talent agency Curtis Brown. She reportedly received an “aggressive” response from a lawyer representing Brand who denied the allegations and said that she was “after money”.
After the Times contacted Tavistock Wood, Brand was removed from the Tavistock Wood and Curtis Brown websites. Tavistock Wood said in a statement: “Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him. Tavistock Wood has terminated all professional ties to Brand.”
