Update in Russell Brand scandal as YouTube makes major move

Update in Russell Brand scandal as YouTube makes major move

YouTube has suspended the monetisation of Russell Brand’s channel for ‘violating Creator Responsibility policy’, the Google-owned company said.

YouTube said the suspension of monetisation was because of the allegations made against Brand.

In a statement, YouTube confirmed: ‘We have suspended monetisation on Russell Brand’s channel for violating our Creator Responsibility policy. If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community.’

The company said that it had suspended Brand’s channel from the YouTube Partner Program ‘following serious allegations against the creator’.

This action means the channel is ‘no longer able to monetise on YouTube’.

The decision applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by the 48-year-old, it added.


MailOnline notes that Brand creates up to five videos a week for his six million subscribers and rakes in an estimated £1million annually from the channel.

However, the outlet adds that although YouTube’s decision will be a ‘blow’ to Brand, it will do ‘little’ to impact his overall net worth, which is said to be £40million.

Brand is facing further accusations as more women come forward with allegations of how he treated them, it has emerged.

On Saturday, the actor and comedian, 48, was accused of rape, sexual assault and physical abuse, in a Channel 4 special episode of Dispatches airing in a joint investigation with The Times.

Brand has insisted his relationships have all been consensual and denied the allegations.

He added: ‘I understand that the police have failed on so many occasions with victims and, of course, as a result of that they’re very fearful.’

Since The Times published its bombshell investigation on Saturday, the outlet has been contacted by ‘several women’.

It reports the claims have been about ‘Brand’s behaviour since the early 2000s’.

Brand has been accused by multiple women, including one who claimed she was 16 years old at the time.

He has also been accused of pursuing audience members for sex while presenting Big Brother spin-off shows EFourum and Big Brother’s Big Mouth on Channel 4, while other allegations relate to when he was a radio presenter for the BBC.

Since reports first broke, the BBC and Channel 4 have launched investigations, while a women’s charity has cut ties with the actor.

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