Dispatches

[Kleio]

Dispatches are usually good about this sort of thing.

The rumours about Brand have been strong for years and Katherine Ryan pretty much named him a while ago. I'm more interested in who he takes down with him. I'm hoping for Walliams as he's always given me the ick. I love the Mighty Boosh so I'm hoping Noel Fielding isn't.

[rosy]

The Times article unpaywalled: https://archive.ph/XFFTF

ETA: which I’ve now read in full. Fuckity fuck. Those poor women.

[Glint]

I’ve had a quick read at the article and his actions don’t surprise me.

[Ruby]

I think we'd all heard these rumours recently. It has definitely been in plain sight for a lot longer though. It was going on at the time I thought he was ok. Then he started telling people not to vote and it got weird. And he pretty much disappeared from TV etc. - which would suggest it was well known.

He's definitely pivoted to his self-help-libertarian-right-wing personality to ride out these allegations. If you look at his blue-tick supporters in Twitter, they all think this is some sort of main stream media conspiracy.

I used to like him. I know he's always been a weird drug addict gobshite, but it would be nice - for once - if someone like that could try not being an actual rapist.

[H1ppychick]

I saw him live once and it was fine (the usual sexual content in his jokes etc but he just about got away with it) until he finished and came off stage, when he went down to the front of the stalls to meet and greet the fans. The ones he spent any time and attention on appeared mainly to be younger girls who were giggly and flirty, and it looked like he was to lining himself up company for later in the evening. He was acting a bit like a Messiah figure, “allowing” them to come and worship him.

It was very uncomfortable and seedy to witness and left me with a bad taste in my mouth at the time, which I’ve never forgotten.

[Rosa]

He's due to perform live tonight, as part of his Bipolarisation tour.

I used to like him. I know he's always been a weird drug addict gobshite, but it would be nice - for once - if someone like that could try not being an actual rapist.

Yep.

[Marth]

We are out and heading home to watch.

[Ruby]

There has just been quite a lot on Channel 4 news. I'm not sure if I need to watch the programme but I feel like I should.

It's depressing to be honest. It wasn't the 70s or 80s. It was in no way 'normal'.

[Morganna]

I've just read the article in rosy's link. Horrible. A 16 year old child. I mean it's horrible when it's adults, but that poor girl.

[Marth]

There has just been quite a lot on Channel 4 news. I'm not sure if I need to watch the programme but I feel like I should.

It's depressing to be honest. It wasn't the 70s or 80s. It was in no way 'normal'.

It's so fucking depressing. Men as a class are fucking awful. Seriously

[Lily]

That article has made me cry. The incredible bravery of those women to come forward. He's disgusting and I am very glad he's getting his comeuppance BUT I hope it also happens legally, too. He needs jailing.

[kiwi]

I used to like him. I know he's always been a weird drug addict gobshite, but it would be nice - for once - if someone like that could try not being an actual rapist.

Sames. I will be sad, but I suppose not overly surprised*, if it all comes true.

*As in not surprised that a man in his position has abused it, not him specifically.

[Morganna]

I thought he was mildly entertaining when he did the Big Brother thing, but on the whole I've always thought you'd get a dose of the clap just by touching him. A year or two ago he kept popping up on my FB page drivelling on about holistic therapy or something. I had to block it quite aggressively - I couldn't understand why anyone would take notice of his wittering about how to live your life.

[Morganna]

There is nothing redeeming about him, is there?

[rosy]

I recognise that they are deliberately finding clips of Brand's shows to support the narrative but this is so, so disturbing.

Apparently he's gone ahead with his live show in London tonight.

[Kleio]

Course he has!

This is really hard going.

[Topcat]

I can't watch it because it is him and I have always despised him, even more when this 'sex addiction' bollocks appeared. But he is front and centre on the BBC News website and they don't usuall report this kind of stuff unless are sure (Cliff Pilchard aside, obvs).

However, I sadly suspect he will end up on GB News being interviewed by the despicable Dan Wootton about lefty lawyers, witch hunts and how it wasn't his fault once nobody can actually pin anything on him.

If pure scum such as Mason Greenwood can 'get away with it' then anybody can.

[Morganna]

This is really hard going.

It really is.

[mischief]

Bob Geldof summed it all up

[Morganna]

I can't watch it because it is him and I have always despised him, even more when this 'sex addiction' bollocks appeared. But he is front and centre on the BBC News website and they don't usuall report this kind of stuff unless are sure (Cliff Pilchard aside, obvs).

I suspect he will end up on GB News being interviewed by the despicable Dan Wootton about lefty lawyers, witch hunts and how it wasn't his fault once nobody can actually pin anything on him.

I don't know. I think the people who've spoken out for the programme will be willing to go to court - I doubt it would have gone out otherwise. In any case, he's finished, even if there is no police involvement. If he sues he will be ruined and if he doesn't, who will want to be associated with him? There will be some support from the likes of Elon Musk, Andrew Tate and Laurence Fox, but he's never going to be remotely mainstream again.