International media question if Russell Brand is an ‘abominable predator’ and picture him ‘sneaking away’ from live show as fallout goes global

The rape and abuse allegations plaguing Russell Brand have made headlines far beyond British shores, as international media speculate about the claims against the comedian, actor and political commentator.

The scandal intensified over the weekend after ‘several women’ contacted The Times and The Sunday Times in the wake of a joint investigation with Channel 4 Dispatches which uncovered separate allegations of sexual abuse against four women.

Brand, 48, strongly denies the allegations, which also include claims of controlling, abusive and predatory behavior, and said all his relationships were “consensual” in a video posted online on Friday evening.

None of his accusers have yet approached police with a formal complaint.

German media have taken particular interest in the Brand saga, with Welt writing an article questioning whether the prominent YouTuber is a “hideous predator” – or simply experiencing an “age of promiscuity”.

Meanwhile, German tabloid Bild was keen to publish images of Brand leaving his final Wembley appearance on Saturday hours after the allegations were made, embellishing them with the headline: ‘Here Russell Brand sneaks out’.

In Scandinavia, media focused on Brand being dropped by Tavistock Wood, with Swedish outlet Expressen pointing out that the talent agency had previously backed the comedian when one of his accusers approached them in 2020.

Tavistock Wood, who represents Dustin Hoffman, Lily James, Charles Dance and Dominic West, later confirmed they had ended ‘all professional ties’ with Brand.

In a statement to MailOnline, the agency said: “Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the 2020 allegations, but we now believe we have been terribly misled by him. TW has terminated all professional ties with Brand.”

Spanish newspaper El Mundo made a sensational comparison to Jimmy Savile, writing that the BBC’s decision to launch an internal investigation into Brand’s conduct during his time at the public broadcaster ‘revived the spirit’ of the comedian who was accused of dozens of cases after his death. of child sex abuse.

Highlighting the support offered by Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher, Norwegian VG reposted his video denying the allegations on her social media – although it was later deleted – while Dagbladet explained that the Metropolitan Police confirmed they had not yet received any complaints from alleged victims. but called on anyone who felt they had been abused by Brand to come forward.

The French and Italian media, meanwhile, took a very direct approach to reporting on the saga and reported the details of the case without any fluff, but Le Monde, Le Parisien and La Stampa reported Brand’s ‘repeated escapades’ and told how the 48-year-old previously said he had ‘no regrets’ about his sexual past and claimed to have slept with hundreds of women.

A recovered drug addict and alcoholic, Brand developed a reputation as a promiscuous troublemaker during the height of his fame, during which he starred in a slew of films and TV series while appearing as a regular guest on several primetime panel shows.

The allegations reported by the newspapers and Channel 4 cover the period between 2006 and 2013, when Brand was a huge star in Britain with a growing American profile.

Known for his unbridled and daring stand-up routines, he hosted shows on radio and television, wrote memoirs chronicling his battle with drugs and alcohol, appeared in several Hollywood films and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012 .

Brand was suspended by the BBC in 2008 for making lewd phone calls to ‘Fawlty Towers’ actor Andrew Sachs, in which he bragged about having sex with Sachs’ granddaughter.

He quit his radio show in the wake of the incident, which sparked thousands of complaints to the government-funded broadcaster.

The BBC, Channel 4 and the production company behind the reality series ‘Big Brother’ – whose spin-offs were presented by Brand – all say they have launched investigations into Brand’s conduct and the way complaints were handled.

But in 2017, Brand told ITV’s Lorraine Kelly that media companies were encouraging obscene behavior.

During an appearance on Kelly’s show to talk about his book “Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions,” the host asked Brand if “(media bosses) allow you to operate a certain way.” You’re on.’

Brand responded, “I think the point of the book is to explain why I stopped taking drugs, stopped being obsessed with sex and with money.

“If you’re in a position of any success, people will allow you to be a fool if they make money from it – drink, drugs, it’s not good to live like that.”

MailOnline has contacted Brand’s former employers, the BBC and Channel 4, for comment.

In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media, but has built a large following online with videos about spirituality, wellness and offering different versions to the mainstream media. He also continues to tour as a comedian.