Pussycat Doll singer backs Russell Brand as besieged comic says he has faced an ‘extraordinary and distressing week’ in new conspiracy-filled video but fails to address rape and sexual assault allegations
- Russell Brand broke his silence since the allegations were published last week
A star of the American band Pussycat Dolls has given their support to besieged comedian Russell Brand after he broke his silence on multiple claims of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse made against him – to rant about conspiracy theories.
Jessica Sutta, 41, responded to Brand’s video, uploaded to his social media platforms last night, in which he failed to address the claims made against him and said it had been an ‘extraordinary and distressing’ week.
Writing on Instagram, the singer, who has used her social media platform to campaign against the Covid-19 vaccination, was one of many celebrities to comment, saying: ‘We support you!!!’
It came after a week of headlines about Brand’s alleged behaviour towards women, as more come forward with accusations of abuse following an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Times.
Brand issued a pre-emptive statement on social media last Friday in which he denied all the allegations against him, said he has spoken openly about his promiscuity and that all sexual encounters have been consensual.
Jessica Sutta, 41, responded to Brand’s video, uploaded to his social media platforms last night
Brand was last seen in public on Saturday night following his stand up show at a theatre in Wembley. The rest of his tour has since been postponed
He issued a second video last night in which he broke his silence for the first time since the allegations were first published, thanking his followers for their ‘support and for questioning the information that you have been presented with’.
He went on to announce he would be returning his show on Rumble – a online video platform where subscribers pay a minimum $60 (£48) fee to watch – after adverts on his YouTube channel were suspended in light of the allegations.
Throughout his rambling speech he accused the British government of demanding that big technology platforms censor his online content and took a swipe at his former employer the BBC for its ‘trust news initiative’ that tackles fake news.
He made numerous references to a supposed conspiracy against him by media outlets and appeared to accuse social media platforms of stifling free speech, in a move that earned criticism by X owner Elon Musk.
The Pussycat Dolls singer was far from the only famous face to respond with support, with American personality and actress Alexis Ren also replying with a message of support.
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Hanna Kinsella also showed her support, leaving a heart emoji, while part of record-producing duo Sigma – Cameron J Edwards – replied to Brand and said: ‘Respect’.
Sex and the City star Gilles Marini also came to Brand’s defence, writing: ‘You are destabilizing the institution and worldwide. I’m absolutely not surprised you are been [sic] censored.’
Jessica Sutta is far from the only celebrity to have leant Brand support
Singers Melody Thornton, Kimberly Wyatt, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Jessica Sutta of The Pussycat Dolls onstage during the 2008 American Music Awards
The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Hannah Kinsella also commented on Brand’s video, leaving a heart emoji
Other celebrities also offered support to the besieged Russell Brand
But multiple other women who were not a part of the initial investigation have since come forward with fresh claims about alleged sexual misconduct.
On Thursday a woman, named ‘Olivia’ to protect her identity, alleged that Brand had allegedly exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated from in 2008.
READ MORE: Elon Musk falls out with Russell Brand: Twitter boss says comic’s latest rant is ‘rather disappointing’ because it plugged Rumble rather than his own service – but has nothing to say on rape and assault claims
The comic was said to have been in the building to filming a pre-recorded edition of his BBC Radio 2 programme on June 16 that year.
The programme, that went out just five days later, featured a clip of Brand and his co-host appearing to joke about the incident, with his co-host Matt Morgan noting: ‘It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.’
She alleged that she answered the door to Brand and his team before going into the bathroom to get some medication.
As she turned around from the medicine cabinet, she alleged 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.’
As she attempted to rebuff him Brand allegedly pulled out his penis and ‘pretty much served it to me as you would someone serving food’.
Other claims against him include the rape of a woman in his LA home, when he trapped her against a wall after she refused to have a threesome with him and another woman, and a serious sexual assault of a 16-year-old who he had brought to his house from school.
Since the allegations were made, more women have come forward with accusations while the Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Soho in 2003.
Brand’s new video came just hours after a woman claimed the comic left her feeling ‘vulnerable and intimidated’, allegedly refusing to call a taxi for her to leave until she performed a sex act.
The comedian, actor and internet personality previously told his viewers last Friday that there are ‘serious allegations’ made against him which he ‘absolutely refutes’. Pictured: Brand on stage in 2008
Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, told Sky News that when she first met Brand on a flight he appeared ‘friendly and charming’ so she accepted his invitation to grab breakfast and go on a walk.
But when they got in the car the woman claimed Brand’s behaviour changed. She said: ‘He wasn’t friendly and charming in the limo. He was aggressive and I felt very vulnerable and intimidated.’
As they were travelling Sarah alleged Brand began to pursue her and ‘ripped’ holes in the tights she was wearing. She initially said ‘no’ to his advances, causing the limo driver to turn around.
They were eventually driven to Brand’s house where they had sex.
She added: ‘I mean, it was consensual. I didn’t say no but I feel like there’s a fine line between being forced and being coerced, you know, like being in a situation where the only way out is just to get it over and done with and leave.’
Sarah went on to claim that Brand then refused to order her a taxi until she performed oral sex on him.
‘I wanted to leave and I said, “I need to get a taxi”. And he said, ‘I’m not going to get you a taxi until you do this’, which was a sex act’, Sarah told Sky.
MailOnline has approached Brand’s representatives for comment over the new allegations.
Brand’s PR firm MBC PR and talent agency Tavistock Wood have since removed him from their websites, while his publisher Bluebird also suspended their relationship.
Channel 4 went on to remove all of its programmes linked to Brand on its website, including episodes of The Great British Bake Off and Big Brother’s Big Mouth in which he was featured.
Brand’s YouTube account has been suspended from YouTube’s Partner Programme ‘following serious allegations against the creator’, meaning his channel is no longer able to make money from advertising.
The remaining shows of his new live show, Bipolarisation, have also been suspended.
Brand still has a presence on video platform Rumble, where his channel has 1.4million followers.
In his latest video, he plugged his Rumble channel to his followers as he accused more popular social media firms of stifling free speech.
He said: ‘It’s very clear to me that we have to be very, very cautious indeed – that’s why I’m asking you to follow me on Rumble. Rumble have made a clear commitment to free speech, Rumble is the primary platform that we will be streaming from.’
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