Brand Speaks Out on His 'Distressing' Week

UPDATE Sep 23, 2023 7:00 AM CDT

Russell Brand's professional and legal woes are mounting after claims he'd sexually assaulted multiple women emerged last week, and the comedian is now publicly speaking out for the first time since. Variety notes that Brand only hinted at the accusations against him in a video posted Friday on his YouTube channel. "Obviously, it's been an extraordinary and distressing week," Brand concedes in the clip, thanking fans for their support. After touching on the issues of "media corruption" and censorship, the 48-year-old also asks people to follow him on the right-wing social media platform Rumble. "I need your support now, more than ever. More than I ever imagined I would," he says in the video. Brand then adds: "More important than any of that is that you please, if you can, stay free." Brand's video in full here.

Sep 18, 2023 3:24 PM CDT

The remaining three dates on Russell Brand's standup comedy tour in the UK have been called off, days after UK news outlets reported on allegations of sexual assault against the actor and comedian. In a statement, promoters said the "Bipolarisation" tour dates, including a sold-out Tuesday show in Windsor, had been postponed, the New York Times reports. "We don't like doing it—but we know you'll understand," promoters said. Brand's management agency has cut its ties with him, and publishers Bluebird said Monday that they had "taken the decision to pause all future publishing with Russell Brand," reports the Guardian.

Brand could also be facing deepening legal trouble. The Los Angeles Police Department said it doesn't have any open investigations of Brand, who was accused by a woman of raping her in the city in 2012, but London's Metropolitan Police said Tuesday that it had received a complaint about an alleged sexual assault in the city in 2003, the Telegraph reports. The complaint is separate from the allegations from four women aired in a joint investigation by the Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4. "Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support," police said. Brand did not appear for his usual Monday live broadcast on Rumble, the Guardian reports. (More Russell Brand stories.)