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Russell Brand investigator says BBC tried to avoid revealing details

September 22, 2023

Investigator on Russell Brand Dispatches probe says BBC tried to avoid revealing details of complaints about comic using FoI laws – amid questions over how bosses allowed Radio 2 to air moment he joked about exposing himself to a woman

Dispatches investigation head says BBC used FOI law to avoid answering them

The BBC was this morning accused of trying to avoid revealing details of complaints made about Russell Brand.

An investigator behind the scandal currently engulfing the star said the corporation had used ‘Freedom of Information Act law exemption’ to swerve answering.

It comes after it was claimed BBC management were made aware in 2019 of claims Brand had exposed himself to a woman in an LA office where he was recording a radio show.

Dispatches’ investigations editor Alistair Jackson told Sky News this morning: ‘One of the things that is important since the film has been broadcast, only yesterday we see this allegation being made, an allegation in the BBC’s LA Studios or in the surroundings of that.

‘According to that report the BBC were informed about that in 2019.

‘I think it’s important to remember we offered the BBC to look and see if there had been any complaints.

‘They used an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act laws to not be clear about that in their responses to the programme.

Russell Brand at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles in September 2008. A woman has accused him of exposing himself to her three months earlier before a radio recording

‘They haven’t been clear about that now. Now we learn BBC management were informed about it in 2019.

‘There’s a building case for the BBC and other organisations to tell us what they knew and when.’

The BBC did not respond to a request for comment on Mr Jackson’s remarks.

Yesterday a woman told how Brand allegedly exposed himself to her in an office where he was recording a radio show – before appearing to joke about the encounter on air.

The woman, named as ‘Olivia’ to protect her identity, claims she worked in a building that also hosted the BBC’s Los Angeles office in 2008, where the comedian is said to have pre-recorded an edition of his BBC Radio 2 programme on June 16 that year.

She alleged that she answered the door to Brand and his team before going to the bathroom to get some medication, and claims that Brand followed her into the room before making lewd remarks and exposing himself.

The programme, which went out five days later, featured a clip of Brand and co-host Matt Morgan appearing to joke about the encounter, with Morgan noting: ‘It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.’

The BBC has since launched an investigation into the claims. In a statement, a spokesperson said: ‘We’re very sorry to hear of these allegations and we will look into them.

‘We are conducting a review to look at allegations of this nature and if the woman who has shared her story is willing to speak to us, we would be very keen to hear from her and anyone else who may have information.

Russell Brand seen at BBC Radio 2 on December 5, 2014 in London. He denies all allegations

Other audio released by Channel 4 shows Brand joking with a teenager about hosting a sex party to commemorate her 16th birthday

Brand ultimately left the BBC following ‘Sachsgate’, in which he and Jonathan Ross left a vulgar voicemail on the answering machine of Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs

‘A key part of the review is to understand what complaints were made at the time, if there was knowledge of Russell Brand’s conduct while he worked on BBC radio, and what was done as a result.

‘We will, of course, speak to the bureau team and anyone who was working there in 2008 as part of this.

‘Further, the director-general has been very clear that some broadcasts from that period were, and are, inexcusable and totally unacceptable, and would never be aired today.’

Olivia told BBC News that, after turning around from searching a medicine cabinet, Brand was stood in front of her with his groin in her face. She claimed that he remarked: ‘I think you’re a bit of alright…I’m going to f*** you.’

She added that, as she attempted to rebuff him, Brand pulled out his penis and ‘pretty much served it to me as you would someone serving food.’

The lewd clip also featured Brand joking that he was ‘sort of’ attracted to women such as actress Lucy Lawless because she was ‘smart as a whip, bright as a button…in control of herself.’

As Morgan adds, ‘not the ones you like,’ Brand adds: ‘Oh no, that won’t do. I won’t be able to drag her off into a cubicle, and show her my pubicles.’

Russell Brand jokes on air about ‘exposing himself to a woman 25 minutes ago’ – the full remarks

Brand: Also, Lucy Lawless, the Xena: Warrior Princess actress and also star of Bedtime Stories, the film I’m doing, is coming down.

She’ll surprise you, Matt, because you’d think the actress playing Xena: Warrior Princess, you’d think: ‘Oh, she’ll be a nice bit of crumpet, dolly bird, you know, bit daft, nothing between her ears, lovely knockers’…she’s rough as horse muck. (laughs)

No, she’s smart as a whip, she’s bright as a button.

Morgan: Have you got a crush on her?

Brand: Sort of but like, you know where it’s a woman where you respect them or something?

Morgan: Why, because she’s a bit in control of herself?

Brand: In control of herself…

Morgan: Not the ones you like!

Brand: Oh no, this won’t do. I won’t be able to drag her off into a cubicle and show her my pubicles, that would never do.

Morgan: How long ago did you do that last?

Brand: It’s been a long while, Matt, since old Russy Brand…

Morgan: (interjecting) It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.

Brand: (laughing) Very easy to judge! Very easy to judge!

Morgan: The receptionist…

Brand: (laughing) Look…

Morgan: Receive this!

Brand: How am I supposed to ring that little bell? With my finger?

Morgan: He got told off for ringing a bell. Minutes later he was showing his willy. As a form of excuse for his behaviour – ‘See, look, this is what I’m hung with!’

Morgan asks: ‘How long ago did you do that last?’

Brand replies: ‘It’s been a long while Matt, since old Russy Brand…’

Morgan then interjects: ‘It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.’

The pair then joke about how Brand exposed himself to a ‘receptionist’ – a job that Olivia did not do at the time.

Responding to Olivia’s claims, Morgan said today: ‘I was not aware until now of the nature of this encounter. I have expressed my regret now looking back at the impact of the show, and this is a further example.

‘The recent coverage has been very distressing to read and I reiterate my absolute condemnation of any form of mistreatment of women.’

Olivia had previously been told by a BBC employee that Brand had joked about the alleged incident in the studio afterwards.

But she admitted that she did not report the incident, fearing the impact that such a report could have on her and her family.

But it was only more recently that she became aware that the remarks had made it to broadcast – and she is furious that BBC editorial standards allowed it on air.

She continued: ‘Had I known audio existed, I probably would have done something as the incident would have been corroborated.

‘What allowed that output go out like that? What made the BBC think that was appropriate to go out like that? I just don’t understand why they didn’t investigate this much sooner.

‘And I suspect there’s far worse in all those episodes that I can’t even stomach to listen to.’

The BBC is already conducting a review into Brand’s time with the corporation, during which time he presented shows on BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio 2.

It has now asked Olivia to get in touch to relay more information about her allegations.

A spokesperson said: ‘We would be very keen to hear from her and anyone else who may have information.

‘Further, the Director General has been very clear that some broadcasts from that period were, and are, inexcusable and totally unacceptable, and would never be aired today.’

Brand’s representatives were contacted for comment.

The news came after Channel 4 released audio of Russell Brand joking about a 16-year-old holding a sex party on air on BBC Radio 2 in 2007.

The newly released clips featured a 15-year-old listener ring in to Brand to ask him what she should do for her 16th birthday.

Brand responds: ’16th party, you’ve had 15 up to now, do you have one every year? But you are 16 years of age?’

She tells him: ‘I’m gonna be in February, but I want ideas.’

The remaining shows of Brand’s Bipolarisation tour were postponed and the Metropolitan Police said they had received a report of an alleged sexual assault in the wake of media allegations about the comedian and actor

Brand replies: ‘I suppose you’re 16, you can’t really drink booze yet, or any drugs, because that’s illegal.

’16, right, now you will legally be allowed to have sexual partners. Now I think you should theme the party around legal sex.

‘Why don’t you have it themed around vampires, because I suppose what you really want to do is heighten the mood of like, you’re 16, you’re still essentially a child, but you’re coming of age, I think you want to heighten the mood of danger?

Russell Brand investigator says BBC tried to avoid revealing details

Investigator on Russell Brand Dispatches probe says BBC tried to avoid revealing details of complaints about comic using FoI laws – amid questions over how bosses allowed Radio 2 to air moment he joked about exposing himself to a woman

Russell Brand jokes on air about ‘exposing himself to a woman 25 minutes ago’ – the full remarks

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