LONDON. – Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon has said the allegations made against Russell Brand are “horrendous” and that the industry needs to confront bad behaviour.
The star has been accused of rape and sexual assaults, which he denies.
Ms Mahon added that as “a woman in our industry” she found the claims “disgusting and saddening”.
Her comments come a day after the BBC’s director general announced a review of complaints against Brand during his time working for the corporation.
On Wednesday, Brand was dropped as the headline act for an Australian wellness festival taking place in February. It follows the postponement of his forthcoming UK tour dates.
The allegations were made at the weekend in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
One of the women, known only as Alice, later told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour that there were requests for girls and women to be “taken off” Channel 4 shows that he worked on “so that he didn’t assault them”.
Brand, who hosted Channel 4 Big Brother spin-off shows for several years in the mid-noughties, has denied all claims of misconduct, saying he’s a subject of “a coordinated attack” involving “very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.”
The comedian, actor and presenter said his relationships have been “always consensual”.
Speaking at the RTS Cambridge Convention on Wednesday, Ms Mahon confirmed the allegations would be “followed up further” and that Channel 4, along with the BBC, [production company] Banijay and others suppliers “are busy investigating”.
She said the network has “invited anyone who knows about this behaviour to come to us”, anonymously if needs be. − BBC