By Our Reporter
British comedian and actor Russell Brand is facing fresh allegations of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour from six additional women, according to an investigation by The Times and The Sunday Times.
The latest allegations include claims that Brand had sex with a woman without her consent, continued sexual activity after another woman repeatedly asked him to stop, and subjected other women to inappropriate and humiliating behaviour.
The development comes days after the 51-year-old comedian was jailed following his conviction for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others during his career.
According to the newspaper investigation, one woman who had an on-and-off relationship with Brand in the late 2000s alleged that he continued having sex with her despite her repeatedly telling him to stop.
She said the incident occurred after they met professionally at Brand’s London home, adding that he later apologised to her both in person and through text messages.
Another woman, who was 19 when she met Brand while waiting to see him with a friend in 2007, alleged that he ignored her pleas to stop during sex despite her telling him that the encounter was painful.
She claimed that Brand subsequently insisted that the encounter had been consensual and that nobody had done anything against their wishes.
The investigation also cited allegations from a woman who met Brand after one of his performances at The Chapel venue in San Francisco, United States, in 2013.
The woman, who was in her late 20s at the time, alleged that Brand manhandled her and forced his hand down her trousers.
Another woman, who encountered the comedian at a music festival in 2005, claimed he approached her and offered to pay her for sex.
The report further detailed allegations by a woman who won a BBC 6 Music competition and appeared as a guest on Brand’s radio programme in 2006.
She alleged that after they began seeing each other occasionally, Brand once instructed her to lick a toilet seat at his home and became angry when she refused.
A sixth woman, who worked at a London venue frequently visited by Brand in 2015, alleged that a member of his staff told her the comedian wanted to see her in the disabled toilets.
She claimed that when she entered the darkened room, Brand pretended to need toilet paper before grabbing her as she attempted to hand it to him.
The newspapers said the latest allegations could not be published before the conclusion of Brand’s trial because of concerns that doing so could prejudice the legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, the allegations have renewed discussions about the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.
Andy Burnham has called on the media industry to examine its practices and take greater responsibility for protecting women and girls following Brand’s conviction and allegations of misconduct involving comedian David Walliams.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has also urged the entertainment industry to strengthen safeguards, warning that the government would not hesitate to intervene if existing protections were inadequate.
Brand has previously denied wrongdoing, maintaining that all his sexual relationships were consensual.
According to the report, his lawyer indicated that he would consider seeking injunctive relief but did not provide a response to the latest allegations before the agreed deadline.
The Press Association said it had contacted Brand’s lawyer for comment.