Jonathan Ross has said he was 'genuinely unaware' of Russell Brand's conduct after the comedian reportedly stayed at his home shortly after an alleged attack on a woman in Los Angeles. The TV presenter released a statement on Wednesday saying he was 'horrified' about Brand's crimes, as well as the allegations surrounding David Walliams.
Brand's stay at Ross' home
According to The Sun, Brand stayed at Ross' country home in Dorset shortly after an incident in which he allegedly raped a woman at his Los Angeles home. Ross was unaware of the allegations, which were revealed years later in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary in 2023.
It is believed Brand, who was convicted for rape and sexual assault last week, stayed at the home to keep a low-profile after his split from singer Katy Perry. A neighbour told the publication: 'I can remember seeing Russell Brand. He walked out of the private road in a group of people. It was definitely him because he is very recognisable. I rarely see Jonathan Ross. I believe the last time was in August.'
Neither Ross nor his family were there at the time, the publication claims.
Ross' statement on Brand and Walliams
On Wednesday, chat show host Ross said he was 'genuinely unaware' of both Brand and Walliams' conduct after a 'tasteless' joke he told was featured in an investigation into the former Britain's Got Talent host. The Celebrity Traitors star, 65, also appeared in a photograph featured in the investigation's accompanying ITV documentary, David Walliams: Power and Silence.
In a statement to the Press Association, Ross said: 'I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct. My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.'
The Jonathan Ross show has come under fire for featuring both Walliams and Brand, who was jailed for over 10 years for rape and sexual assault on Monday. Ross appeared on several television shows alongside Brand and also featured on his BBC Radio 2 show in 2008, when the pair became embroiled in a scandal involving Georgina Baillie.
Addressing the 2004 joke
The incident, dubbed 'Sachsgate', saw the pair leave a voicemail for her grandfather, actor Andrew Sachs, during which they made explicit comments about a relationship she had with Brand. Ross has also addressed the joke he made at the Comedy Awards in 2004, insisting he didn't write the punchline.
The presenter said: 'I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old. This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect. It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point. Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him. I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.'
Metro has contacted representatives for Jonathan Ross for comment.
