Russell Brand Faces YouTube Ad Revenue Suspension Over Sexual Assault Claims

British comedian and actor Russell Brand is set to endure a suspension of ad revenue on his YouTube channel following multiple accusations of sexual assault.

What Happened: As per a recent Reuters news piece, YouTube, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG GOOGL, has penalized Brand for contravening its creator responsibility policy. This move is in response to a series of sexual assault allegations against Brand that surfaced over the weekend.

The Sunday Times and Channel 4 TV’s “Dispatches” were the primary sources of the allegations, indicating that Brand, 48, had been accused by four women of sexual attacks, including rape, between 2006 and 2013. The London police have since received an additional sexual assault complaint in 2003.

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Brand, who boasts a YouTube following surpassing 6 million in recent years, has strongly refuted the allegations. In a video message on his social media, he elaborates, “Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were always consensual.”

YouTube’s reaction to the allegations aligns with its wider policy to safeguard its users and community. A YouTube spokesperson elaborated, “If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community.”

In the wake of the allegations, Brand’s planned live shows have also been called off.

Image credits – Shutterstock

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