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Past comments about Russell Brand from high-profile women – including his ex-wife Katy Perry – have resurfaced after he was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.

Four women claim Brand sexually assaulted them between 2006 and 2013 – with the allegations coming to light as part of an investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches over the weekend.

The 48-year-old comedian denies all claims against him – and says all his past relationships were consensual.

Russell Brand is seen onstage at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, June 3, 2012 i
Pic:AP

In 2006, pop star Dannii Minogue called Brand a “vile predator” while describing an appearance with him on his MTV chat show 1 Leicester Square.

The Australian singer, who had been promoting her album The Hits & Beyond, told The Mirror: “[Brand] is completely crazy and a bit of a vile predator. I certainly don’t think he has cured his sex addiction, that’s for sure. He wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“He’s obviously very intelligent – but he wears more make-up than I do. Normally, I love guys with eyeliner on. It can be very sexy, but not on Russell. Absolutely no way, never, he’s just not my type.

“Throughout the whole interview, he kept making shocking remarks that I can’t even repeat. Just uttering the words would make me blush.”

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Another past interview from Brand’s ex-wife Katy Perry has also resurfaced, with the pop star described Brand’s behaviour as “very controlling”, and talking about what she called the “real truth” about him that she would not disclose.

Brand and Perry were married between October 2010 and July 2012.

Brand and Perry in London in 2011
Image:
Brand and Perry in London in 2011

In the Vogue interview from 2013, speaking about their former relationship, Perry said: “I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can’t necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day.”

Brand got his big TV break in 2000, presenting several shows on MTV. He went on to host the Big Brother spin-off show on Channel 4 from 2004.

He became one of the biggest comedians of the 2000s – eventually breaking the US and carving out a career in Hollywood.

More recently he has rebranded as a wellness influencer, attracting millions of followers on social media.

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What are the allegations against Russell Brand?

Brand: From drug addict to comedy star

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Brand arriving at a gig on Saturday night

Following the accusations against him, Brand has been dropped by his London-based agent Tavistock Wood as well as several charities he was associated with.

Brand’s supporters include tech billionaire Elon Musk and controversial influencer Andrew Tate – both of whom have defended the comedian online.

Brand performed a sold-out comedy gig in northwest London on Saturday night, and is due to perform again in Windsor on Tuesday evening.

The Metropolitan Police say they are not currently investigating any allegations against him, but have encouraged victims of sexual assault to contact them, no matter how long ago it happened.

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Rapper Ghetts pleads guilty to causing death by dangerous driving

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Rapper Ghetts pleads guilty to causing death by dangerous driving

Rapper Ghetts has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.

The 41-year-old also pleaded guilty to driving dangerously before the fatal collision shortly after 11.30pm on 18 October.

The musician, whose real name is Justin Clarke-Samuel, appeared for a hearing at the Old Bailey via videolink from Pentonville prison, wearing a green polo shirt.

Yubin Tamang, 20, a student from Nepal, died two days after being hit by Clarke-Samuel’s BMW M5 in Redbridge Lane, Ilford, northeast London.

Ghetts, a two-time Mercury Prize nominee and MOBO winner, has been in custody since a preliminary appearance at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on 27 October.

He will now be sentenced in February.

The rapper was first nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2021, for his third album Conflict Of Interest. His second nomination for his fourth album, On Purpose, With Purpose, in 2024.

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Adolescence stars among host of Britons nominated for Golden Globes

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Adolescence stars among host of Britons nominated for Golden Globes

British drama Adolescence has seen its lead stars all nominated for Golden Globe awards.

The drama, starring Stephen Graham, depicts the aftermath of the stabbing of a teenage girl, as a 13-year-old boy from her school is arrested for her murder. It was one of the most talked-about shows of the year.

Young Owen Cooper is up for best supporting actor. Pic:Netflix
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Young Owen Cooper is up for best supporting actor. Pic:Netflix

Graham, along with Owen Cooper, Ashley Walters and Erin Doherty are all up for gongs. It follows a host of wins at the Emmys in September.

Receiving five nominations in total, the Netflix limited series was only beaten by HBO’s White Lotus, which got six nods, coming top in the TV category.

Cynthia Erivo was nominated for her role in the Wicked sequel, Wicked For Good, while British stars Gary Oldman, Helen Mirren and Aimee Lou Wood also got recognition for their roles in Slow Horses, Mobland and The White Lotus, respectively.

Mirren will also be awarded one of the Globe’s two lifetime achievement awards, the Cecil B DeMille Award, announced a few days before the ceremony in the New Year.

Emily Blunt picked up a surprise nomination for her role in The Smashing Machine, opposite Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – who also got a nod for the sports biopic.

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Tessa Thompson was recognised for her role in Hedda, a modern re-telling of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play.

Irish stars Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley were both nominated for Hamnet, the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s book about William Shakespeare and his wife Agnes. The movie isn’t out in the UK until January.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the London premiere for Wicked: For Good
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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the London premiere for Wicked: For Good

Ryan Coogler (L) and Michael B Jordan at the Sinners premiere. Pic: AP
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Ryan Coogler (L) and Michael B Jordan at the Sinners premiere. Pic: AP

Films, TV – and podcasts

Unlike other awards, the Globes cover both TV and film and are split by genre, falling into either the drama or comedy and musical category – meaning a wealth of nominees are in the running.

This year, there are 28 categories.

In the film category, One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, led the nominations with nine, followed by Norwegian comedy-drama Sentimental Value with eight, and vampire horror Sinners with seven.

Leonardo  DiCaprio in a scene from  One Battle After Another.
Pic: Warner Bros/AP
Image:
Leonardo DiCaprio in a scene from One Battle After Another.
Pic: Warner Bros/AP

KPop Demon Hunters continued its world domination with three nominations – best animated film, cinematic and box office achievement and original song – making an Oscar nod further down the line look more and more likely.

New to this year’s nominations is a category for podcasts. Selected from a long list of the 25 most-listened to shows, Good Hang With Amy Poehler, Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard and Call Her Daddy were among the casts that made the cut.

Sarah Jessica Parker will be honoured with the Carol Burnett Award.

Now in comeback mode, the Globes had previously faced criticism over a lack of diversity in the organisation, which led to the event being held behind closed doors in 2022.

The 83rd Golden Globes ceremony will take place in LA on 11 January, and will be hosted by US comedian Nikki Glaser for the second year running.

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Former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault

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Former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault

Former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood has pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault.

The 68-year-old arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, wearing a black hooded jacket, a maroon shirt and dark trousers.

Westwood stood with his hands clasped in front of him as he confirmed his name, before sitting down in the glass dock.

He is alleged to have raped women, kissed them and touched their bodies without consent.

The offences are said to have taken place against seven different women between 1983 and 2016.

Three of the alleged indecent assaults are said to have taken place at the BBC studios in the 1990s.

Westwood was granted bail, with the condition not to contact the complainants ahead of a pre-trial review hearing, scheduled for next December.

Last month, Westwood returned to the UK from Nigeria to appear in court.

He has attended five police interviews voluntarily since the investigation into the alleged offences began.

Westwood has previously denied all allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

The charges

Charges against Westwood include an allegation of rape against a woman at a hotel in London in 1996, one count of rape from the early 2000s at an address in London, and two counts of rape at an address in London in the 2010s.

He is further accused of four indecent assaults in London in the 1980s, three indecent assaults at the BBC in the 1990s, and two indecent assaults in the early 2000s.

The former DJ is also alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at a nightclub in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 2010, and faces a second sexual assault charge against a woman at a music festival in London in the 2010s.

Westwood began his broadcasting career in local radio before joining Capital Radio in the late 1980s.

He moved to the BBC in 1994, working on Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra for almost 20 years.

After leaving the BBC in 2013, he then joined Capital Xtra, hosting a regular Saturday show where he was referred to as “The Big Dawg”, before he left the company in 2022.

The trial is set to take place on 25 January 2027.

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