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Russell Brand shared a video on his YouTube channel in which he denies some “very serious allegations” against him, which will be made into a documentary and published in a newspaper on Saturday.
The comedian and actor said he “absolutely rejects” the allegations made against him, which he did not disclose in detail but described as “very, very serious criminal allegations.”
Brand, 48, said the allegations “concern the time when I was working in the mainstream, when … I was very, very promiscuous.”
“I have received two extremely disturbing letters or a letter and an email. One from a mainstream media television company, one from a newspaper that lists a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks, as well as some pretty stupid things like my community festival that should be stopped so I shouldn’t be able to follow the mainstream narratives. Media attacking this channel,” he claimed in the video.
Brand further suggested that the investigation was part of a “coordinated media attack,” “like in the case of Joe Rogan when he dared to take a drug that the mainstream media did not approve of.”
During his “period of promiscuity,” Brand said, “the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual.” I was always transparent about it back then. Almost too transparent, and I’m making it transparent now. And seeing that transparency turn into something criminal that I absolutely deny makes me wonder, is there another agenda at play?”
Brand said there are witnesses who could “directly contradict” the allegations made against him in a “narrative” that two “mainstream media outlets are trying to construct in what I believe appears to be a very coordinated attack.”
He concluded: “Due to the seriousness of the allegations, I don’t want to go into it any further, but I feel like I’m being attacked and obviously they work very closely together.” We will of course look into this matter because it is very, very seriously. In the meantime, I want you to stay close to me, stay awake, but more importantly, if you can, please stay free.”
Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, was quick to defend Brand, responding to his video tweet by saying, “Of course. They don’t like competition.”
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Brand has more than six and a half million followers on his YouTube channel, where he shares his thoughts on current events, often referencing conspiracy theories.
He has frequently attacked the mainstream media in the past.
On Friday, the Mirror reported that Channel 4 should highlight alleged behavior of an A-list celebrity broadcasts The investigation is scheduled to air on Saturday evening at 9 p.m.
The Channel 4 TV guide lists the upcoming program as: “New: Dispatches Special. A 90-minute special investigation from Dispatches.”
The Independent has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Essex-born Brand began his career as a stand-up comedian before landing a job as a presenter on MTV. He then starred in film roles, among others St Trinian (2007), Forgot Sarah Marshall (2008) and Take him to the Greek (2010).
He has become known for his off-stage antics, including his two-year marriage to Katy Perry, his resignation from BBC radio over voicemail harassment of Andrew Sachs in 2008 and his vocal objections to running in a general election in 2013.
Source : www.independent.co.uk