A resurfaced clip shows David Walliams and Russell Brand joking about appearing gay as a 'smokescreen,' years before both faced sexual misconduct allegations and Brand's rape conviction.
The footage comes from the first episode of Channel 4's The Russell Brand Show, a Friday night talk show that ran for only five episodes in late 2006. Walliams and his former comedy partner Matt Lucas appeared in the series premiere on November 24, 2006.
The Conversation
During the discussion, Brand donned a top hat, adopted a cockney persona, and lay back on the sofa, declaring: 'This is a beautiful affectation.' Walliams agreed, saying, 'Yeah, you look beautiful in it actually,' to which Brand asked, 'Really?'
Lucas then interrupted, saying, 'Girl, you look gorge,' and addressing the two of them, added: 'D'you know you two are like the two gayest straight blokes there are, aren't you?' Walliams quipped to Brand, 'Isn't it a wonderful smokescreen?' Brand responded, 'Isn't it, though? Isn't it glorious? It works wonderfully well.'
Context of Allegations
The resurfaced clip has gained attention amid serious allegations against both media personalities. Earlier this week, Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 and a half years after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, following a four-week trial in which he denied the charges. The rape occurred in 2009, and two convictions of sexual assault occurred in 2005 and 2004 in separate incidents.
On Tuesday, The Guardian and ITV released findings of a joint three-year investigation alleging that Walliams, 55, groomed fans as young as 15 and harassed women in the workplace over several years. Walliams, who unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent publication citing risk of self-harm, has firmly denied all allegations.
Survivor Testimony
The clip's reappearance comes in light of testimony shared by survivors during Brand's trial. One anonymous victim, whom Brand assaulted in Soho in 2004, said in her impact statement: 'For many years, as his star was rising, it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke.'
In the investigation into Walliams, one woman given the pseudonym Jade alleged that the TV star contacted her online when she was 15 and he was 36, around 2007. 'He lifted my top up and sucked on my breast and then tried to put my hand down his trousers. That's when I pulled away and said "no". He had an erection at the time,' she claimed.
In a statement denying the allegations, Walliams said: 'I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.'
