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Monday 18 September 2023

Oh dear



Russell Brand allegations: Accuser claims BBC car took her from school to star's house when she was 16

"Alice" told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour the alleged abusive relationship left her feeling "cheap and dirtied" and went on to say Brand's denial of the accusations was "insulting".

One of Russell Brand's accusers has claimed a BBC car took her from school to the star's house when she was 16 years old.


I have never liked Russell Brand and never found him entertaining, but have no views on the allegations. At the moment it seems another of those opaque allegation and denial cases. Not worth following in any detail, but the BBC car may be mildly interesting. Not that anything ever sticks to the Beeb.

6 comments:

DiscoveredJoys said...

I have no views on the allegations against Russell Brand. If matters are tested in court, well enough. If it turns out that no case goes to court, well enough.

My observation is that if some random man is seriously promiscuous then the probability of allegations of fragile consensus, morning after regret turning sour, or false allegations, must increase.

dearieme said...

I don't like the cut of his jib but why the sudden interest now? Because of his successful preaching against the political conventional wisdom?

I've not forgotten that he was the creep who persecuted Manuel from Barcelona.

Sam Vega said...

Just as in the Savile case, the BBC will be priding itself on how open and transparent its investigation has been. It doesn't seem to be an "organisation" in any traditional sense, one that rallies to defend itself from external threats. Under this sort of attack, it just seems to temporarily disband itself into fragmented little units, some of which will be as vocal and critical of BBC management as any other agency. Feminist campaigners in investigative roles will demand justice from the Director General as if he weren't even their boss. And then it will reassemble when the threat is past. A collection of liberal individuals who just happen to have formed a temporary alliance.

A K Haart said...

DJ - yes, he seems to have lived dangerously in that respect. It doesn't seem to matter how much time has elapsed either.

dearieme - his successful preaching against the political conventional wisdom certainly will have put a target on his back. I've not forgotten his creepy behaviour towards Manuel from Barcelona either.

Sam - that's an interesting angle, maybe it's deliberate, because it does seem to work. As you say, the BBC will be priding itself on how open and transparent its investigation has been and temporarily fragmenting allows it to do that.

dearieme said...

From Will Jones at the Daily Sceptic: 'Mary Harrington has ... [argued] that whatever the substance of the allegations ... “everyone subordinates the question of sexual misbehaviour to a political assessment of the accused. And perhaps it was ever thus”. Indeed, the Sunday Times report itself indicates that “Brand’s new social media direction… was a factor in inspiring several to speak out”, she notes.'

A K Haart said...

dearieme - similar assessments seem to have popped up in a number of places. It's easy enough to give it credence in these hysterical times, but of course that doesn't make him innocent either. Perhaps it was ever thus.