BBC apologizes after staff felt unable to raise concerns about Russell Brand

The BBC has apologized after an internal review revealed that staff members felt unable to report concerns about Russell Brand’s behavior during his time at the broadcaster.

The report found that individuals feared he would "always get his way" and therefore remained silent.

The review, led by Peter Johnston, BBC’s director of editorial complaints and reviews, examined eight complaints related to Brand’s tenure at BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008. Allegations included inappropriate on-air comments, urinating in studio cups, throwing objects, and sexual misconduct, including alleged incidents with competition winners.

The BBC acknowledged compliance failures during Brand’s shows and stated that such content would not be aired today. The broadcaster also highlighted steps taken since 2008 to improve workplace culture and reporting mechanisms.

Brand, who denies allegations of rape, assault, and emotional abuse, did not participate in the review. The Crown Prosecution Service is considering charges, while the Metropolitan Police continues to investigate multiple reports of sexual offenses.

The report underscores ongoing concerns about power imbalances in the media industry. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the findings "horrendous" and urged media organizations to ensure that abuse and harassment are not tolerated.

A Downing Street spokesperson emphasized the need for robust workplace policies to prevent similar cases in the future. The BBC pledged to continue monitoring workplace culture and strengthen protections for staff.