Russell Brand once exposed himself to a woman in a BBC building, later laughing about the incident while on the air for his now-defunct radio show.
The woman – who chose to use the pseudonym Olivia – has now come forward following bombshell allegations of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four other unnamed accusers against Brand, who has denied those claims.
Olivia told BBC News on Thursday that the particular incident occurred in Los Angeles in June 2008 when she was employed by a media company.
At the time, Brand and his team were in the same building to pre-record an episode of “The Russell Brand Show” for BBC Radio 2.
Olivia told the outlet that she at one point went to the bathroom – which was located near the radio studio – to get some sinus medication.
While “squatting” down to look through the medicine cabinet, she allegedly “felt someone” behind her.
“I turned around, and in my eyesight was a man’s groin in black pants,” she recalled. “I was startled. And I got up, and I realized it was Russell.”
According to Olivia, Brand then allegedly said to her, “Oh, I think you’re a bit all right. I’m gonna call you Betty.”
She said she informed the British comedian, now 48, that that was not her name, but he allegedly replied, “I’m gonna call you Betty … I’m gonna f–k you.”
Though Olivia claimed she responded, “No, you’re not,” Brand allegedly “pulled out his flaccid penis on his hand and served it to [her] as if you would be serving someone some food.”
Olivia allegedly repeatedly told him, “No, you’re not going to f–k me,” but admitted that there was “a bit of banter going on” because she “didn’t know what to do.”
She said he eventually put his penis back in his pants, at which point she noticed that “the door was closed behind him” – though she wasn’t sure “whether he locked it or not.”
Soon after, Olivia said someone from Brand’s team started “banging” on the door to let him know he was “wanted in the radio studio.”
She said Brand opened the door and went about his way while she went back to her desk.
“I laughed about it, thinking, ‘What just happened? That shouldn’t have happened like that,'” she recalled. “But who would believe me? I was stunned at the time. I didn’t know what to do.”
Olivia said she then “texted the person who was in the studio” with Brand to tell them about the indecent exposure, to which the person allegedly replied, “Yes, I know. He’s talking about it on air.”
Though many people were around to hear the pre-recorded episode, which was then broadcast less than a week later, Olivia claimed that “nobody” came to her to “say sorry” for Brand’s “behavior.”
During the June 21, 2008, episode in question, Brand and his co-host, Matt Morgan, openly chatted about the incident.
Brand was discussing actress Lucy Lawless, whom he described as “in control of herself.” Morgan noted that those types of women are “not the ones [Brand] like[s]!”
Brand agreed, adding, “I won’t be able to drag her off into a cubicle and show her my pubicle.”
Morgan then asked, “How long ago did you do that last?” before telling their listeners, “It’s been 25 minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.”
Through cackles, Brand shouted, “Very easy to judge! Very easy to judge!”
The pair continued to laugh while making crude jokes about what had just happened.
Olivia called the exchange “disgusting” and said she felt “ashamed.”
“I wonder, had something been done, there would’ve been fewer women, perhaps, that he would’ve done horrible things to,” she said.
Olivia claimed that when she would tell BBC staffers about the story over the years, they would laugh it off. However, in 2019, one of those employees finally informed management of the incident.
According to Olivia, no higher ups ever approached her directly, and no formal action was taken.
Director-General of the BBC Tim Davie has already announced a review of Brand’s time at the public service broadcaster.
Davie said he and his colleagues “would be very keen to hear from her and anyone else who may have information,” adding that they would “of course speak to the bureau team and anyone who was working there in 2008 as part of this.”
He went on to acknowledge that “some broadcasts from that period were, and are, inexcusable and totally unacceptable, and would never be aired today.”
But Olivia feels it’s all “a bit late.”
“Isn’t there a sense of duty?” she wondered. “What made the BBC think that was appropriate to go out like that? I just don’t understand why they didn’t investigate this much sooner.”
Reps for Brand did not immediately respond to Pvnew’s requests for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
