Six More Women Accuse Russell Brand of Sexual Misconduct
The Facts
- Russell Brand has been accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by six more women in an investigation published this week by The Times and The Sunday Times. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying all his relationships were consensual.
- A Netflix documentary, "Russell Brand: Open Secret," was released Friday morning. It featured a woman using the name Emily who said she asked Brand to use protection, while The Times reported at least five partners said he made them brush their teeth.
- A woman identified as Alex said Brand continued having sex with her after she told him to stop because he was not wearing a condom. She said he apologized afterwards in person and by text message, and that she chose not to physically resist him.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
It is unsurprising that, after years of forced silence, more women are now coming forwards to expose Brand for the man he is. Despite all the money, fame and lawyers in the world, the actions of a serial abuser over a period of decades cannot be suppressed forever. Both Brand and the system that allowed him to commit these crimes must face justice for all its worth.
Narrative B
Russell's treatment of those around him is well-known and indefensible, but there is a clear distinction between an unpleasant partner and a serial sexual abuser. As multiple women have already found out in court, those who make such allegations must consider whether Brand's self-centered behavior will hold up against the legal scrutiny that these accusations require.
Establishment-critical narrative
Now that Brand has fallen out of favor, the same media establishment that profited from his excesses is profiting from his disgrace. His behavior was marketable while he drew audiences; moral outrage became marketable once he became expendable. Holding him accountable should not let the institutions that enabled his behavior recast themselves as champions of victims.