London (AP) – The BBC apologized to staff members who felt unable to complain about the driving of the actor and actor Russell Brand because of his status after an internal examination revealed that the concerns Regarding his behavior was not treated appropriately.
The investigation by Peter Johnston, director of the editorial complaints of the BBC, identified eight complaints concerning BrandIncluding allegations according to which he had sex in the BBC premises and exposed in the studio. Only one of these complaints was officially filed with management at the time, Johnston noted.
“I am grateful to those who manifested themselves to speak to me and my team and I apologized on behalf of the BBC to those who are most directly affected by what I documented here,” said Johnston in a report Posted Thursday. “The culture of the time undoubtedly influenced what was acceptable / tolerated, but I found that a certain number of individuals had concerns about the behavior of Russell Brand that they felt unable to lift then .
The BBC launched its investigation after the publication of the British media claim of four women that they were sexually assaulted by the brand between 2006 and 2013, at the height of its fame. Brand had two weekly radio programs on the BBC from 2006 to 2008 and worked periodically on a certain number of short -term projects.
Brand, 49, recently created podcasts and YouTube videos that have been criticized for the dissemination of disinformation and conspiracy theories. He denied accusations of rape, assault and emotional violence, and previously declared that all his sexual relations were “absolutely always consensual”.
Johnston said he had contacted Brand so that he could provide his point of view on the investigation, but he chose not to participate.
The BBC admitted that it was “clear that the presenters were able to abuse their positions” in the past. But the broadcaster said there had been changes in procedures since Brand left the BBC, including the creation of a special process for the most serious allegations and anti-intimidation and harassment policy.