A live GB News broadcast descended into a heated argument after presenter Beverly Turner defended convicted rapist Russell Brand on social media and stood by her comments when they were read out on air. Her co-host Andrew Pierce called the post "shameful" as the pair clashed over the allegations against the comedian.
Defence of Brand triggers on-air row
Turner had praised Brand as a "hero" in a tweet, writing: "You are being attacked; established media don't know what to do with the fact that you have 6 million subscribers and generate autonomous and original content." She added: "You are welcome on my GB News show any time. We are mainstream media, but we are not establishment media; keep going. This proves you're winning, you're a hero."
When the post was put to her live on air, Pierce responded: "Bev, that is shameful." He went on: "You have dismissed in one tweet a four-year investigation by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4, contemptuously, the mainstream media."
Allegations detailed
Brand faced the allegations in 2023 following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches. The report featured four women who accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013.
During the exchange, Pierce said: "A 16-year-old girl has complained about being groomed by this man, two women have said they were raped, and there are more and more cases coming to light, and you say 'you're a hero'."
Turner defends her position
As Turner remained unmoved, Pierce asked: "Don't you think before you say he is a hero you should establish whether these very serious allegations are true?"
She replied: "Before I tweeted that, I had spoken to several sources close to Brand, close to The Times… I was confident that there is no smoking gun in this regard. I remain confident having watched the Dispatches."
