Russell Brand: Dannii Minogue and Katy Perry’s past warnings about comedian resurface
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.
Read more: Met Police receives 2003 Russell Brand sex assault claim
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 describing 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
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.
Read more:
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.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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