Vanessa Feltz opened up for the first time about how she was “deeply offended” by comedian Russell Brand when he joked on air about sleeping with her daughters.
Russell, 48, is currently facing allegations of sexual abuse and abusive and predatory behavior between 2006 and 2013, when he was at the height of his post-film fame. Accusations he denies.
Speaking on her TalkTV drivetime show this afternoon, Vanessa said: ‘If this is okay with you, wouldn’t I mind sharing a personal reflection on this story with you?
‘I met Russell Brand when I was a guest on EForum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth – so our career paths crossed very naturally over the years and on other occasions I met him as a friend, I met him on his shows and one of those occasions was in 2006 when I appeared on his chat show, 1 Leicester Square.’
She then played a clip from the show, in which Brand asks her, “Can I talk to you or your daughters?”
Claims: Vanessa Feltz opened up for the first time about how she was ‘deeply offended’ by comedian Russell Brand when he joked on air about sleeping with her daughters
Allegations: Russell, 48, is currently facing allegations of sexual assault and abusive and predatory behavior between 2006 and 2013, when he was at the height of his post-film fame. Accusations he denies
To which she quickly replies: ‘No, that’s not allowed! No…’
The conversation continues: ‘Or here’s a crazy suggestion…’ as Vanessa interjects: ‘Or three at once, no!’
“Damn, she’s always one step ahead. Vanessa Feltz, come on, some of them are adults,” Brand jokes.
“I have two daughters and no, the answer is no,” with Russell asking: None of them?”
Vanessa says, “Neither. Will you stop it! No that is not possible.’
“Selfish,” he adds.
Vanessa says, “If you have daughters of your own, you know why I said that.”
“Well, I’m not sleeping with them…” he adds in a funny voice.
Vanessa responds, “God, yuck.”
Today in the studio she added: ‘Yes, exactly, that’s what I thought then and that’s what I think now too.’
She continued: ‘It’s terribly awkward when you’re a guest on someone else’s show, especially in a theater full of the host’s wonderful fans… I was in an incredibly awkward position where you don’t really know what to do .
‘Are you supposed to find it funny and play along? Are you supposed to get up and walk out in a high guy and look like you’re a killjoy and a party pooper? What should you do?
“I know, I was deeply offended then, just as I am still deeply offended now at the idea of him saying, ‘I want to have sex with you and both of your daughters.’ I think one of my daughters was 15 years old at the time and the answer, as you saw me say there, was emphatically, “No!”
Speaking on her TalkTV Drivetime show this afternoon, Vanessa said: ‘I know, I was deeply offended then, just as I am still deeply offended now at the idea of him saying, ‘I want to have sex with you and both your daughters.’ (photo with daughters Allegra and Saskia in 2011)
She also said that she had often seen Brand in a work environment, explaining: “I was literally there and I was there quite a lot, because I was on Big Brother’s Big Mouth and EForum a lot. I don’t mean every week, but maybe every other week, often. I saw Russell in full tide and full current.
“I actually really admired him, his phraseology, his passion, the kind of drama of it all. He seemed to bring a huge dose of charisma to the program, the likes of which I had never seen in any other presenter.
‘He was really quite remarkable. So I was there, when he was ‘in plain sight’ I looked at him. But I knew he had sex with a lot of women, but I thought they were all willing to do it.”
She added that TV executives may also have been left in the dark when it came to the star’s behavior. Brand has strongly denied all claims, following last weekend’s reports.
Russell’s representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
The comedian is facing a slew of historic sexual assault allegations.
The allegations emerged from a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches, which revealed a litany of accusations against the comedian turned wellness influencer.
He was subsequently dropped by a charity dedicated to ending violence against women, in light of the allegations made by the two media outlets.
In the wake of the allegations, the Metropolitan Police said it will speak to the media to investigate Brand’s alleged treatment of women, but added that the force has currently ‘not received any reports in connection with’ the allegations of sexual assault. described in detail in the article or documentary.
The BBC and Channel 4, for which Brand previously worked, have investigated his behavior following the allegations.
In a new statement today, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘The documentary and associated reports contain serious allegations spanning a number of years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programs between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently investigating the issues raised.”
Denial: Brand has lashed out at ‘aggressive’ media claims as he insisted all relationships he had ‘during his time of promiscuity’ were ‘consensual’ in 2 minute 45 second monologue
Hurt: He was subsequently dropped by a charity committed to ending violence against women in light of the allegations published by the two media outlets
Channel 4 has also said it is conducting its own internal investigation following allegations about Brand.
The statement added: ‘We will write to all our current suppliers to remind them of their responsibilities under our Code of Conduct, as we are committed to ensuring our sector has a safe, inclusive and professional working environment.’
Two of the women in Channel 4’s Dispatches, which aired on Saturday evening, said they felt production companies had ‘enabled’ Brand’s behaviour.
Meanwhile, Brand has received support from controversial public figures, with the likes of Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and Laurence Fox all appearing to back the comedian as he claimed he was the victim of a ‘coordinated media attack’.
Billionaire tech mogul Musk, self-proclaimed misogynist Tate and actor and political activist Fox threw their support behind Brand, while fellow comedians like Jo Caulfield, Sofie Hagen and Daniel Sloss appeared to turn their backs on him.
There is nothing to indicate that Russell Brand insulted Lauren Harries.