The BBC has issued a statement after Russell Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault, saying its thoughts are "with the brave women who came forward and told their stories which led to a conviction in this case."
A BBC spokesperson referenced a "detailed report" released in January 2025 that examined how complaints about Brand's behaviour were handled, reviewing eight allegations of misconduct during his time working for the corporation between 2006 and 2008.
BBC statement on Brand verdict
The spokesperson said: "It was of great concern to us that some people felt unable to raise concerns about Brand's behaviour. We apologised to those impacted, for both the culture and failings at the time, and we reiterate that apology again today."
They added that there "can be no place for the abuse of power", urging the industry to collaborate "to ensure that anyone who suffers at someone else's hand feels able to report it, that their concerns are taken seriously and that they are listened to."
Guilty verdicts and cleared charges
A jury found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday 5 November. He was cleared of two further charges of rape and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
The verdicts were as follows: Count 1 (rape) - not guilty; Count 2A (attempted indecent assault) - not guilty; Count 3 (sexual assault) - guilty; Count 4 (rape) - not guilty; Count 5 (sexual assault) - guilty; Count 6 (rape) - guilty; Count 7 (sexual assault) - guilty.
Brand displayed no reaction as he was convicted, apart from closing his eyes when the verdict on the rape charge was delivered. The 51-year-old faces the possibility of a substantial prison sentence when he is sentenced on Monday 9 November.
Background to the allegations
In September 2023, an investigation by journalists from The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches published allegations from women who said they had been raped, sexually abused, and degraded by Brand.
The revelations prompted four women to come forward to accuse Brand of criminal offences, while another two women came forward once Brand had been charged.
