BBC axes Russell Brand content: ‘Falls below public expectations’ | UK | News#BBC #axes #Russell #Brand #content #Falls #public #expectations #News

The BBC has confirmed it has removed some of its Russell Brand content from its online services.

Some content featuring the TV personality, who is facing a number of serious sexual assault allegations, has been taken off the BBC’s iPlayer and Sounds sites.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “The BBC does not ban or remove content when it is a matter of public record, unless we have justification for doing so.

“There is limited content featuring Russell Brand on iPlayer and Sounds.

“We’ve reviewed that content and made a considered decision to remove some of it, having assessed that it now falls below public expectations.”

Shows that are confirmed to have been removed include an episode of QI and a Joe Wicks podcast, both which featured Russell Brand as a guest.

The removal of shows follows YouTube’s decision to suspend his channel on the site from making money through adverts.

The video-sharing site said it did so for Brand “violating” its “creator responsibility policy”, adding it was taking action to “protect” its users.

Earlier on Tuesday, a YouTube spokesperson said: “If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action.”

He has not spoken publicly since Friday, in which he published a video to social media denying allegations he described as “serious”, but did not go into further detail.

Several other media brands have cut ties with the comedian since the allegations were made, including his talent agency and two book publishers.

On Monday The Met Police announced it had received a report of an alleged sexual assault in 2003 following the media investigations into the TV personality.

The women have alleged to the Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme that Brand sexually assaulted them while he was a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 and then an actor in several Hollywood films. The Sunday Times said the women did not know each other.