A star of US band Pussycat Dolls has voiced their support for beleaguered comedian Russell Brand after he broke his silence on multiple claims of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse against him – to rant about conspiracy theories.
Jessica Sutta, 41, responded to Brand’s video, which was uploaded to his social media platforms last night, in which he did not address the allegations against him and said it had been an “extraordinary and disturbing” week.
The singer, who has used her social media platform to campaign against the Covid-19 vaccination, wrote on Instagram and was one of many celebrities to comment: “We support you!!!”
It came after a week of headlines about Brand’s alleged behavior towards women, as more people came forward with abuse allegations following an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Times.
Brand issued a pre-emptive statement on social media last Friday denying all allegations against him, saying he had spoken openly about his promiscuity and that all sexual encounters were consensual.
Jessica Sutta, 41, responded to Brand’s video, which was uploaded to his social media platforms last night
Brand was last seen in public on Saturday evening after his stand-up show at a Wembley theater. The rest of his tour has now been postponed
He released a second video last night in which he broke his silence for the first time since the allegations were made, thanking his followers for their “support and for questioning the information you have been given.”
He further announced that he would return his show to Rumble – an online video platform where subscribers pay a minimum of $60 (£48) to watch – after advertising on his YouTube channel was suspended in light of the allegations.
During his lengthy speech he accused the British government demanded major tech platforms censor his online content and lashed out at his former employer, the BBC, for its ‘trust news initiative’ tackling fake news.
He made numerous references to an alleged conspiracy against him by the media and appeared to accuse social media platforms of suppressing freedom of expression, a move that drew criticism from 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 responding 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 – responded to Brand and said: ‘Respect’.
Sex and the City star Gilles Marini also came to Brand’s defense, writing: ‘You are destabilizing the institution and worldwide. I’m not surprised at all that you’re (sic) censored.”
The singer, who has used her social media platform to campaign against the Covid-19 vaccination, wrote on Instagram and was one of many celebrities to respond, saying: ‘We support you!!!’
Jessica Sutta is far from the only celebrity to receive support from the brand (pictured with her current husband Mikey Marquart in 2018)
Singers Melody Thornton, Kimberly Wyatt, Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Jessica Sutta of The Pussycat Dolls on stage at 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 beleaguered Russell Brand
But several other women who were not part of the original investigation have since come forward with new claims of alleged sexual misconduct.
On Thursday, a woman, called “Olivia” to protect her identity, claimed that Brand exposed himself to her in an office where BBC Los Angeles operated in 2008.
The comic is said to have been in the building on June 16 that year filming a pre-recorded edition of his BBC Radio 2 programme.
The programme, which came out just five days later, featured a clip of Brand and his co-presenter appearing to joke about the incident, with his co-presenter Matt Morgan commenting: ‘It’s been 25 minutes since he hooked his dick to a lady showed. .’
She claimed she answered the door to Brand and his team before going to the bathroom to get some medicine.
When she turned around from the medicine cabinet, she claims Brand was standing in front of her with his crotch in her face. She claimed he remarked, “I think you’re fine…I’m going to fuck you.”
As she tried to turn him down, Brand allegedly took out his penis and “served it to me like you would serve someone who is serving food.”
Other claims against him include the rape of a woman in his LA home when he locked 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 he had committed. taken from school to his house.
Since the allegations were made, more women have come forward with allegations, while the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Soho in 2003.
Brand’s new video came just hours after a woman claimed the strip made her feel “vulnerable and intimidated” and refused to call a taxi to let her leave until she performed a sex act.
The comedian, actor and internet personality previously told his viewers last Friday that ‘serious accusations’ have been made against him that he ‘absolutely refute’. In the photo: Fire on stage in 2008
Sarah, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said Sky News that when she first met Brand on a flight, he seemed “friendly and charming,” so she accepted his invitation to have breakfast and take a walk.
But when they got into the car, the woman claimed Brand’s behavior had changed. She said: ‘He was not friendly and charming in the limo. He was aggressive and I felt very vulnerable and intimidated.’
While they were traveling, Sarah claimed that Brand began chasing her and “torn holes” in the tights she was wearing. She initially said “no” to his advances, causing the limousine driver to turn away.
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 coerced and being coerced, you know, like you’re in a situation where the only way out is to just get over it and leave.”
Sarah further alleged that Brand then refused to order her a taxi until she performed oral sex on him.
‘I was going to leave and I said, “I have to get a taxi.” And he said, ‘I’m not going to get you a taxi until you do this,’ which was a sexual act,” Sarah told Sky.
MailOnline has contacted Brand’s representatives for comment on the new allegations.
Brands PR agency MBC PR and talent agency Tavistock Wood have since removed him from their websites, while his publisher Bluebird has also suspended their relationship.
Channel 4 subsequently removed all its programs linked to Brand on its website, including episodes of The Great British Bake Off and Big Brother’s Big Mouth in which he appeared.
Brand’s YouTube account has been suspended from the YouTube Partner Program “following serious allegations against the creator,” meaning his channel can no longer make money from advertising.
The remaining shows of his new live show, Bipolarisation, have also been suspended.
Brand is still present on video platform Rumble, where his channel has 1.4 million followers.
In his latest video, he took his Rumble channel to his followers, accusing the more popular social media companies of suppressing freedom of speech.
He said: ‘It’s very clear to me that we have to be very, very careful – that’s why I’m asking you to follow me on Rumble. Rumble has clearly committed itself to freedom of expression. Rumble is the main platform we will be streaming from.”