Russell Brand has been stripped of hosting an Australian wellness event after being accused of sexual assault.
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The British comedian was due to headline the health and wellness event, which is being held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, in February 2024. However, he and the festival organizers decided mutually agreed to cancel his participation after he was accused of rape and sexual assault over the weekend.
“Due to the circumstances that have recently come to light, Wanderlust and Russell Brand have agreed that Mr. Brand will not participate in the Wanderlust Festival,” festival executive director Charlotte Hill wrote in a statement.
On Saturday (16Sep23), Russell Brand was accused of rape and sexual assault by four women between 2006 and 2013, as part of a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel’s Dispatches 4. On Sunday, the London Metropolitan Police received a complaint of assault dating back to 2013 against Russell Brand.
Following this news, the remaining dates of his UK tour were postponed, YouTube halted monetization of his video channels, and Bluebird, Pan Macmillan’s publishing company, suspended his contract. Some TV episodes featuring Russell Brand have been removed from Channel 4 and the BBC’s on-demand services, while Paramount+ has also removed his 2009 comedy special.
The American Trip actor denied the accusations in a video posted Friday, saying all of his sexual encounters have always been “absolutely consensual.”