'Russell being Russell': Investigation reveals culture of dismissal surrounding Brand's behavior

A Banijay investigation into the allegations against Russell Brand has concluded that informal complaints about his alleged inappropriate behavior during his time on shows produced by Endemol were not "adequately addressed."

The investigation, conducted by law firm Lewis Silkin, found that while no formal complaints were made against Brand during his time on shows like "Big Brother's Big Mouth" and "Kings of Comedy," concerns had been raised by staff members. These concerns included allegations of Brand asking runners to get phone numbers of audience members and female crew members feeling uncomfortable or intimidated by his behavior.

The report states that Brand was known for his flirtatious behavior and would often be seen in his underwear or naked in front of Endemol staff, a behavior that was seemingly tolerated as part of his persona.

While the investigation found no evidence that crew members were aware of specific incidents, such as an alleged instance where Brand exposed himself to a runner, it did note a lack of proper training and escalation procedures for addressing such concerns at the time.

In September, Brand faced accusations of sexual assault and emotional abuse from five women, one of whom alleged rape. Brand has denied these claims.