Russell Brand's 2009 comedy special, Russell Brand in New York, was removed from Paramount+ at some point between September 19 and 20. The removal came in the wake of allegations from five women (four anonymous) of rape, sexual assaults, and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013.
Other facets of the fallout include Channel 4 and BBC removing TV and audio shows featuring Brand, the comedian’s YouTube videos being stripped on monetization, him pausing his live tour and triggering further investigations into his behavior.
Such has also caused revisits of how open a secret this was in Hollywood, such as his last major TV gig, as a judge on Roast Battle on the British and Irish version of Comedy Central in 2018. It ended with him being dropped after he was repeatedly accused of being a “sexual predator” and roasted for such during the recording of the show. It happened often and wasn't by contestants, but instead fellow judge Katherine Ryan. Of course, these comments were edited out and didn't make it to air.Ryan has previously spoken about her experiences on the show, without naming it or Brand. Last year on BBC series Louis Theroux Interviews..., Ryan revealed that she did confront him: “I – in front of loads of people, in the format of the show – said to this person’s face that they are a predator.” Ryan would tell Theroux that she did not name Brand because it was a “litigious minefield” and she had not personally been assaulted by him.
It's been said Brand was “absolutely furious” at being targeted. Same said other comedians may have also called Brand out, though it's not been corroborated by show employees. Other sources said he demanded protection from being his fellow comedians pointing such out. The show's production company Fulwell 73 grew uncomfortable with the allegations about Brand sticking and his fragile attitude and lacking humor gave them a reason to drop him.
Roast Battle was based on the American Jeff Ross Presents Roast Battle, with a format hinging on comedians making jokes at each other’s expense, and judges Brand, Ryan, and host Jimmy Carr were also considered to be fair game. Jonathan Ross would replace Brand and stay on through series 3.
Source: Deadline (1,2)
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