Comedian Josie Long has said that Russell Brand physically assaulted her when she was 22, speaking out after the former TV star was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Long, 44, recalled how Brand would bite her face and chase her after she asked him to stop, describing the encounters as physical assault. She told Novara Media: "I actually had an experience with Russell Brand. Backstage, he would bite my face and I would tell him I didn't like it and he would chase me around."
"I would giggle because I was 22 and it was overwhelming. It took a lot for him to stop. It's funny now to reckon with that and to be like, 'oh that was physical assault, wasn't it?'"
Warning to the comedy industry
Long issued a stark warning to others in comedy, saying: "I just simply can't tell you how toxic that culture was back then. I really, really want this to be a turning point in the industry. I want to say this very clearly: all other misogynists in comedy, we're coming for you and I hope you never sleep again."
Brand, 51, was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault and one of rape. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life and must serve at least seven years of his sentence before being considered for release.
Long and Brand frequently crossed paths on the UK alternative comedy circuit, particularly during the mid-2000s and early 2010s. In interviews recalling the early London comedy scene, she described his conduct as "consistently disgusting, to be fair", saying he would arrive at gigs with stacks of explicit contact cards collected from London phone booths to pick out women after shows.
Reaction to conviction
Following the conviction, Long said: "I don't know a single female comedian who isn't relieved and reassured by this. I hope it can be a turning point for an industry that for too long has enabled and promoted predatory men at the expense of safety and justice for women. I am so glad that his victims have got some justice - they have been so brave and so strong."
Judge Mr Justice Joel Bennathan praised the women who came forward, saying: "Before passing sentence, I pause to pay tribute to the determination and bravery of all the women whose evidence I have been recounting."
"I do not increase your punishment because of it, but all those women had to face being confronted and being told they had lied, or twisted the truth and, or, they had agreed to your sexual demands. That was all done because of you, on your instructions."
Barrister Ian Winter KC, acting on Brand's instructions, had attempted to claim all accusations were either consensual or did not happen, and accused victims of fabricating their accounts, leading to calls for rape myths about victims' reactions to be challenged in court.
The judge added: "Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent."
He criticised Brand and those around him who may have encouraged his behaviour, calling the TV star a "sexual predator" with "staggering arrogance". Mr Justice Bennathan continued: "No doubt your companions thought it was outrageous laddish behaviour that only you could get away with. It was outrageous and possibly laddish, but also a criminal sexual offence... and as it turns out you haven't got away with it."
