Russell Brand photographed in London in October 2017.Photo:Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Russell Brandis facing a new allegation of sexual assault.
On Friday, a woman named only as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against the actor, 48, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County — accusing him of sexually assaulting her in a bathroom and exposing his penis to her on the set of the 2011 movie, Arthur.
According to the anonymous woman’s affidavit submitted with her court filing, the film’s star “appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol, and was carrying a bottle of vodka on set” on July 7, 2010, before he exposed his penis to her “in full view of the cast and crew,” as well as employees of the movie’s production teams and Warner Bros.
Brand has not publicly addressed the lawsuit and his representatives did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The movie referred to in the affidavit, a romantic comedy that was a remake of a 1981 movie of the same name, was released in April 2011. It featured direction from Jason Winer, as well as performances from Brand,Helen Mirren,Jennifer Garner,Nick Nolte,Greta Gerwig, and more.
“I still maintain my career as an actor, and I am terrified of being blacklisted in the industry or suffering other negative effects beyond what I already suffered if my name is associated with a sexual assault lawsuit against others in the industry,” the woman stated in the filing.
“I cannot bear to imagine my career that I love being jeopardized at this point in my life.”
Russell Brand attends a book signing in New York City on October 3, 2017.John Lamparski/Getty Images
John Lamparski/Getty Images
The affidavit also detailed the “retaliation” Jane Doe feared “against me and those close to me if my name was publicly associated with a sexual assault claim against a celebrity with a social media presence that includes millions of followers, including some that idolize Mr. Brand” and later included a request that the woman be allowed “to continue to prosecute my claims to the full extent of the law using a pseudonym.”
The filing names Brand and production companies MBST Entertainment, BenderSpink and Langley Park Productions, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery as defendants.
Additionally, the attorney detailed that Jane Doe was requesting an immediate order that none of the defendants reveal her identity, writing that she “further requests that this Court issue an Order temporarily restraining the Defendants from disclosing Plaintiff’s name or personal information to the public.”
Neither affidavit addressed specific claims being made against any other defendant besides Brand.
Before reports surfaced on Sept. 15, Brand had shared a video online earlier the same day where he said he “absolutely refutes” the allegations, which he claimed at the time were “extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.”
Russell Brand photographed in Sept. 2023 in London.James Manning/PA Images via Getty
James Manning/PA Images via Getty
In the immediate aftermath of the accusations, some ofBrand’s Bipolarisation tour dates were postponed, while The Times reported, in the days after the initial investigation was published, that “several women” had since reached out with “new” claims involving Brand.
The actor was also the subject ofa new sexual assault allegationin the U.K. the same week.
On Sept. 19, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told PEOPLE in a written statement:
“On Sunday, 17 September, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.”
In a written statement in October, Thames Valley Police told PEOPLE that the department “received new information in relation to harassment and stalking allegations dating back to 2018,” and that it would “be inappropriate to comment on an ongoing investigation.”
Brand has not publicly addressed any of the accusations against him since his Sept. 15 video, though in a video posted on social media on Sept. 22 he said that it had been “an extraordinary and distressing week,” and thanked fans for their support.
source: people.com
