Serious allegations of sexual assault were made against Russell Brand this week. In his first statement, he only addresses this indirectly. Instead, he relies on an attack on the media.
There are serious allegations: Russell Brand, comedian, self-promoter and ex-husband of Katie Perry, is said to have sexually assaulted several women between 2006 and 2013 and is said to have raped at least one. So far, the 48-year-old Brit has remained silent about it. On Friday he spoke out for the first time since the allegations became known.
In a clip uploaded to Instagram, Brand addresses his fans and thanks them for their support. Let it be one “extraordinary and disturbing week”, he explains. He only addresses the allegations indirectly – by calling for an attack on the media and the government.
Narratives and the Deep State
“Thank you for questioning the information presented to you”, he begins his rant against supposed censorship. He explains that the media are collaborating to deceive the population. “They coordinate to create narratives.” Then follow the usual buzzwords from the right-wing conspiracy spectrum: It’s about the Deep State, corporate collusion, the military-industrial complex.
The statements can of course also be related to Brand’s current situation, at least indirectly. The allegations were jointly investigated by several of Britain’s largest media outlets. Shortly before publication, Brand commented on his sex life in a video. In relation to letters asking him for comment, he had emphasized that all his relationships had always been consensual and that he had one “promuscuous time” lived through.
Transparent advertising from Russell Brand
The new clip is also an advertising measure: Brand repeatedly asks people to follow him on the Rumble service. The video platform of the same name is the only media offering that does not practice censorship, says Brand. Rumble is particularly popular with conservatives; the company also provides the technical infrastructure for Donald Trump’s Truth Social network. Competitors such as Facebook and YouTube had repeatedly accused the operators of censorship because the services had taken action against misinformation.
Brand also follows this line. Only at Rumble can you tell the truth uncensored, he claims. You can also continue to support him financially there. The call has a specific reason: Rumble this week rejected a request from the British Parliament to freeze Brand’s payouts in light of the allegations. You won’t be at one “Cancel Culture Mob participate”, according to a statement from the company. Brand’s post concludes with a dramatic farewell phrase: “Please stay free – if you can.”
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Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
