BBC received 3 complaints about Russell Brand BEFORE rape claims were made public – but ‘it appears no action was taken’
THE BBC received three complaints about Russell Brand before he was publicly accused of rape - but "it appears no action was taken".
The comedian, 48, is now subject to five complaints from his time working as a radio host for the broadcaster between 2006 and 2008.
Two of the complaints have been made within the last two months and are understood not to be of a serious sexual nature.
The allegations of "inappropriate conduct" are said to include "urinating in bottles in a BBC studio, inappropriate use of BBC cars and claims his conduct in and around the studio falling below the standards expected of someone engaged by the BBC”.
The other three complaints, each of which were made before Brand was publicly accused of rape and sexual assault, relate to an alleged incident at BBC premises in Los Angeles in 2008 and use of BBC cars.
Peter Johnston, director of the BBC's editorial complaints and reviews, provided an update into the corporation's probe today.
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The sexual abuse claims were made by four women as part of an investigation by the Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.
Brand has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and insists his relationships were "always consensual".
One of the complaints was made to the corporation in 2019 regarding alleged misconduct at a BBC premises in Los Angeles 11 years earlier.
The BBC has previously said it would be conducting a review of claims Brand flashed a woman, before laughing about it on his radio show.
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The incident allegedly happened when the woman was working in the same building as the corporation’s office in the US city.
The other two complaints were made to the corporation between 2006 and 2008 - during Brand's time as a radio host for the BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.
The nature of these complaints has not been revealed, though.
Mr Johnston is probing whether managers at the BBC were aware of the allegation and what action was taken. The investigation was launched on September 19.
The report update today says the probe is "in no way complete", but "it would appear that no disciplinary action was taken against Russell Brand during his engagement with the BBC in 2006-2008 prior to his departure from the BBC".
Brand’s use of BBC cars was called into question after The Times reported a woman’s claims he used the broadcaster’s car service to pick her up from school when she was 16 so she could visit his home.
Addressing the complaint specifically, the update said: "Due to the passage of time the BBC’s records of car bookings are no longer available.
"This means that we have not been able to identify the precise details of this or any records or details of specific journeys or bookings made for Russell Brand.
“We have spoken to a number of individuals who either had knowledge of the BBC car arrangements at the time, or who drove vehicles for the BBC at or around the time.
“No one we have spoken to so far recalls driving Russell Brand at the time. Our investigations are continuing.”
Mr Johnston's update also detailed a number of audience complaints
At least ten women are understood to have come forward to make public claims against the comedian so far.
Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault, and abuse by four women including, one of whom was aged 16 at the time.
Channel 4's Dispatches programme, which aired on Channel 4 on September 16, one woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by Brand during a three-month relationship when she was 16.
Another alleged she was raped at his Los Angeles home in 2012.
The allegations also include emotional and physical abuse.
One of the claimants also says they were sexually assaulted while working as an actress on the set of a movie in 2010.
A lawsuit claims the Brand exposed himself to the woman on set before forcing her to perform sex acts on him in a bathroom stall.
Channel 4 is conducting its own probe over the time Brand worked for the channel as a presenter.
The Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police (TVP) are also probing allegations made against Brand.
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Thames Valley Police confirmed last month it is investigating information in relation to claims claims of "harassment and stalking" made by a woman.
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
