YouTube has stopped Russell Brand from making money from advertising on the online video platform in response to allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse against the British comedian and actor.
YouTube said it has suspended “monetization” for Brand’s channels, which have more than 6.6 million subscribers. The channels remain available to watch.
Broadcasters such as Channel 4 have removed programs in which the comedian appeared or was hosted since The Sunday Times and Channel 4 made allegations on Saturday that Brand committed rape, sexual assault and sexual and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013.
At the time, he starred in shows on the BBC and Channel 4, and appeared in Hollywood films.
The BBC said on Tuesday it had removed some content from its iPlayer and Sounds platforms “after determining it now falls below audience expectations”.
Brand used his main YouTube channel @RussellBrand on Friday, as well as social media platforms Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, to deny the claims. He said his relationships were “always consensual.”
YouTube said its action was consistent with how it had applied its policies in the past, citing decisions to demonetize YouTubers James Charles and David Dobrik following allegations of sexual misconduct.
“If a creator’s off-platform behavior harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community,” the company said.
Media experts say much of the comedian’s income likely comes from YouTube channels, where he has posted videos positioning himself as a wellness and health guru, as well as from global politics and the media.
Other commercial partners have also cut ties with him, including his publisher Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, which was due to release a book in December, and the talent agency Tavistock Wood, owned by Curtis Brown.
His live tour dates have been postponed by the promoter following his final performance at London’s Wembley Park Theater on Saturday evening, which began after the allegations were reported by The Sunday Times and Channel 4.
The Metropolitan Police said on Monday that it had received a report of an alleged sexual assault following the sex offense allegations in 2003.
Broadcasters that have engaged Brand as a presenter or guest have started an investigation into his behavior. The BBC said the reports “contain serious allegations spanning a number of years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programs between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently investigating the issues raised.
In a statement Tuesday, the company said it “does not ban or remove content when it is public unless we have justification to do so.
“There is limited content featuring Russell Brand on iPlayer and Sounds. We have reviewed that content and made an informed decision to remove some of it as we have determined that the content is now below audience expectations.”
Brand was working on a spin-off Big Brother shows produced by Endemol, which was acquired by Banijay UK in 2020. In response to “very serious allegations . . . regarding Russell Brand’s alleged serious misconduct while presenting programs produced by Endemol in 2004 and 2005,” Banijay said it had “launched an urgent internal investigation and will cooperate with all requests for information from broadcast partners and external agencies.”
Channel 4 said it was “shocked to learn of these deeply disturbing allegations, including behavior alleged to have occurred on programs made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007”. The broadcaster has removed content featuring Brand, such as episodes of The Great British bake-off.
Channel 4 said it was “committed to understanding the full nature of what happened”, adding: “We have carried out extensive documentary reviews and have found no evidence to suggest that the alleged incidents were brought to Channel 4’s attention .
“We have asked the production company that produced the programs for Channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings to us correctly and satisfactorily. Channel 4 is also conducting its own internal investigation.”