British comedian and actor Russell Brand resigned last night despite serious allegations of sexual misconduct. He performed a show for 2,000 people at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, London. “There are topics that I absolutely cannot talk about, I hope you can understand that.”
Yesterday it emerged through various British media that four women accused Brand of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse. He allegedly abused a sixteen-year-old girl and raped a woman at home.
Brand took flight yesterday by contradicting the accusations for the publications. In a video, he called it a “long list of astonishing and quite excessive attacks, including some very serious accusations that I absolutely refute.”
He also states that the traditional media is engaged in a witch hunt against him, because in his own words he is “an alternative media maker”.
‘We have your back’
According to a BBC reporter who attended his show yesterday, it was unclear for a long time whether it would go ahead. The comedian came on stage after an hour’s delay. There were mainly Brand’s supporters in the theater. They were especially angry with the “mainstream media”. One of the people in the audience held a sign that said “We have your back.”
Brand did not comment on the allegations. “There are a lot of things I want to talk to you about. But clearly there are some things I can’t talk about.”
The BBC reporter says the audience enjoyed the performance and left the venue satisfied, where a flood of paparazzi waited. The Brand supporters were clearly not looking for that. “We should kick you off your steps,” was shouted at the photographers who had brought a stepladder with them to take the best photo.
There are three more shows planned for Brand’s theater tour in the near future. It is not yet clear whether those performances will continue.
- Comedian Russell Brand accused of rape and other sexual misconduct
