YouTube has blocked Russell Brand from making money from his platform and the BBC pulled some of his shows from his online streaming service in the wake of rape and sexual assault allegations against the comedian-turned-influencer.
In a statement on Tuesday, YouTube said it had “suspended monetization” on Brando’s channel for violating its “Creator Responsibility Policy.”
“If a creator’s behavior outside the platform harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we will take action to protect the community,” the online platform said.
Brand has built a large following on his YouTube channel in recent years, amassing more than 6.6 million subscribers while cultivating a persona as a “wellness” and conspiracy influencer.
BBC too reported removed “certain programmes” featuring the former actor from its iPlayer and Sounds streaming services which were “deemed to be ‘below public expectations'”.
“There is limited content featuring Russell Brand on iPlayer and Sounds,” the BBC said in a statement released by the UK public broadcaster on Tuesday. “We have reviewed this content and have made a judicious decision to remove some of it as we have determined that it no longer meets public expectations.”
Other platforms hosting material from the brand, including Spotify and Luminary, did not immediately respond to requests for comment from NBC News.
The development comes after several allegations of sexual assault against the British star were made public over the weekend, with Brand, 48, accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women in a joint investigation. Times of London, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.
Brand denied the allegations and said all of his relationships were consensual.
In a video posted on his social media accounts before the allegations were made public, the comedian said he had received “extremely disturbing” communications from a mainstream television company and newspaper “writing a litany of extremely shrill and aggressive attacks”.
“But amid this litany of stunning, rather baroque attacks, there are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” Brand said.
On Monday, London’s Metropolitan Police said it was investigating a report of an alleged sexual assault in 2003 as a result of the allegations against Brando.
The police department told NBC News it received a report of Brando being sexually assaulted on Sunday, a day after the investigation was made public and a documentary aired on the subject on Saturday.
The incident is said to have occurred in 2003 in London’s Soho district, the Met said.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a sex crime, regardless of how long ago it was, to contact us,” the department said.
NBC News has not spoken to any of the accusers or independently confirmed any of the allegations against Brando.
As a result of the allegations, Brand has postponed upcoming UK comedy shows.
His management announced on Monday that they are suspending the end of his current ‘Bipolarisation’ comedy tour.
“We’re postponing these few remaining charity benefit shows, we hate to do it – but we know you’ll understand,” the statement read.
It was not immediately clear whether the dates would be rescheduled.
Tavistock Wood Management Agency said on Sunday they had dropped Brand as a client after they said they had been “terribly misled” by him.
