Internet: YouTube stops remuneration for incendiary videos after allegations

In light of allegations of sexual assault against British comedian Russell Brand, the Internet platform YouTube has suspended remuneration for views of his videos. The 48-year-old violated the platform’s rules for creating responsible content, the British news agency PA quoted from a YouTube message.

Several women are reportedly making serious allegations against Brand, who is the ex-husband of singer Katy Perry (38), including rape, physical assault and emotional abuse. The allegations relate to events from 2006 to 2013. Brand, who was then at the height of his career as a presenter on BBC radio and on the TV channel Channel 4, denies all of the allegations. Brand and Perry were married from 2010 to early 2012.

On Monday, the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed that they had received a report of sexual assault against Brand. The incident is said to have occurred in 2003.

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Brand has more than 6.6 million followers on his main YouTube channel. He recently posted daily videos there in which he commented on political and social issues. He often used conspiracy theories. A video from last week was captioned with the question: “Has the FBI gotten your DNA?”

Brand denied any wrongdoing in a YouTube video shortly before the allegations were published by The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4. He said he led a very promiscuous life back then, meaning he had a lot of changing sexual contacts. But his relationships were always amicable.

The BBC said on Tuesday it had removed several pieces of content Brand had contributed to from its online libraries because it did not meet audience expectations.