YouTube has opted to temporarily suspend comedian Russell Brand’s ability to generate income from his videos in light of multiple allegations of rape and sexual assault against him.
In a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday, YouTube disclosed that it had “halted monetization on Russell Brand’s channel” due to violations of its Creator Responsibility policy. This policy outlines behavioral standards for creators both on and off the platform. The statement further clarified that YouTube takes action to protect its community if a creator’s off-platform conduct poses harm to users, employees, or the ecosystem.
YouTube, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet (GOOGL), indicated that this action was taken in response to “serious allegations” made against Russell Brand over the weekend.
This development coincided with the decision to remove certain online content featuring Brand, citing content that fell “below public expectations.”
Over the weekend, a joint investigation by British media outlets The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 reported allegations from four women who claimed that Brand sexually assaulted them on separate occasions between 2006 and 2013. One of the women asserted that she was 16 years old at the time of the alleged assault, with Brand being 31 in London.
On Friday, Brand preemptively denied the allegations in a video posted on his verified Instagram page, emphasizing that he vehemently refuted the “serious allegations” amid what he described as a barrage of attacks.
In recent years, Russell Brand has been primarily active on his YouTube channel, which has faced criticism for promoting conspiracy theories, including some related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
YouTube also clarified that its governance procedures prohibit creators from using new or alternative channels to circumvent enforcement decisions and generate income elsewhere on the platform.
Marketing and branding expert Allyson Stewart-Allen of International Marketing Partners stated that YouTube was making a “right” move by distancing itself from Brand’s “toxic brand.”
On Monday, the Metropolitan Police in London announced an investigation into a sexual assault allegation against Brand, which dates back to 2003. The report was made by a woman following the joint media investigation’s release.
A spokesperson confirmed that the broadcaster was “urgently looking into” the issues raised in the Channel 4 documentary. Russell Brand had worked on radio programs between 2006 and 2008.
On Tuesday, the revealed in a statement that it had reviewed content featuring Russell Brand on iPlayer and Sounds and decided to remove some of it, determining that it no longer met public expectations. The jomotoday noted that it typically does not ban or remove content that is a matter of public record unless there is justification for doing so.
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