The BBC has formally apologized to staff because its internal review found that Russell Brand's inappropriate behavior, spanning from 2006 to 2008, was not properly addressed at the time, and employees felt unable to report misconduct due to workplace culture.
The apology followed a review conducted by Peter Johnston, BBC's director of editorial complaints and reviews, which investigated allegations made against Brand, including inappropriate conduct while working for the corporation.
On Thursday, January 25, 2024, the BBC released the findings of its review into Brand's behavior while he worked on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 2. The investigation was initiated after allegations surfaced in 2023 accusing the comedian of s*xual misconduct, including r*pe and harassment, during his career.
Johnston's report examined eight complaints, two of which were made during Brand's employment at the BBC. Among the complaints, one formally registered in 2007 concerned Brand urinating into a cup during a live radio show and behaving aggressively toward production staff.
The report noted that the issue was verbally raised with BBC management at the time but was not properly addressed. Another incident involved Brand allegedly exposing himself to a woman at the BBC's Los Angeles bureau. However, the complaint was not pursued formally at the time due to a perception that such behavior was common knowledge within the organization.
Russell Brand's behavior created a culture of silence at the BBC
Johnston's findings highlighted a culture of silence at the BBC, where many employees, particularly junior staff and freelancers, felt unable to report Russell Brand's behavior. The report noted,
"Many BBC staff and freelancers, especially in more junior roles, found Russell Brand demanding and difficult to work with and his behavior extreme, but all felt that there was no point in complaining."
Employees believed Russell Brand had the support of station management and that their concerns would not be taken seriously. Although the review found no formal evidence of non-consensual or illegal activities, it acknowledged that Brand's reputation as "promiscuous or out-of-control" was widely discussed among staff.
The BBC concluded that its complaints procedures at the time were inadequate, which contributed to the perception that Russell Brand was untouchable. Following the review, the BBC issued a statement acknowledging past failures and outlining reforms to prevent similar issues in the future.
"It is clear that presenters have been able to abuse their positions at the BBC in the past," the statement read.
The corporation has since introduced a centralized complaint system and strengthened its policies against bullying and harassment. Peter Johnston personally apologized to those affected, stating that,
"A number of individuals had concerns about Russell Brand's behavior which they felt unable to raise at the time."
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that BBC employees feel safe and supported when reporting misconduct.
The BBC's internal review is part of a broader investigation into Brand's conduct. In September 2023, a joint report by Channel 4's Dispatches, The Times, and The Sunday Times detailed allegations of s*xual misconduct against the comedian from multiple women. The Metropolitan Police are currently investigating claims of s*xual offenses in London and other areas of the UK.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the allegations against Brand as "horrendous" and called for industry-wide action to address power imbalances in the media sector.
"For too long, there has been a culture of silence where inappropriate behavior like Brand's has been tolerated or downplayed," she stated.
The Metropolitan Police continue their investigation, and the Crown Prosecution Service is reviewing evidence to determine whether criminal charges should be brought against Russell Brand. He has denied all allegations, insisting that his past relationships were consensual.