FEATURE: Them Too: After Dispatches’ Russell Brand Documentary, When Will the Music Industry Get Its Reckoning?

FEATURE:

 

 

Them Too

PHOTO CREDIT: Thirdman/Pexels

 

After Dispatches’ Russell Brand Documentary, When Will the Music Industry Get Its Reckoning?

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AS I am writing this…

 IN THIS PHOTO: Russell Brand/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images

(on Tuesday, 19th September, 2023), there is a police investigation against comedian Russell Brand. YouTube has suspended monetisation of his channel. He has had some charity gigs cancelled too. Women’s charities have also cut ties with him. The Channel 4 documentary, Russell Brand: In Plain Sight was aired on 16th September. The reaction was one of disgust and shock. With so many people suspecting that Brand was predatory and nasty, the revelations of the brave women who told their stories to Channel 4 left me gobsmacked. More allegations have since come to light. This is what The Guardian wrote for their review about the powerful documentary:

“As well as the allegations being known, by the time of broadcast Brand’s denial was also out there. On Friday night, Brand outed himself as the target of the investigation, releasing a video made for his millions of social media followers. He talked of “some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute”. Insisting that “the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual”, he speculated about “coordinated media attacks” with “another agenda at play”. This garnered him support from thousands of his existing followers, and new allies with an interest in self-identifying as brave media disruptors: several GB News presenters posted on social media appearing to take his side.

So with its allegations and the alleged perpetrator’s denial already known about, and even the culture-war battle lines around it already drawn, what currency does Russell Brand: In Plain Sight have? Plenty. As well as organising deeply harrowing testimony into a cogent narrative, the Dispatches film places the women’s claims into a wider context within the industry and our culture as a whole, pinpointing a collective culpability that resonates well beyond whatever one man might have done.

The allegations themselves are disturbing enough. Being able to see and hear the words spoken, even by anonymised interviewees filmed in silhouette or, in one case, replaced by an actor, lends every awful detail alleged a piercing immediacy.

Surrounding the interviews are the words of Brand himself, on stage, TV and radio. Even in the best-case scenario for Brand – the one in which all these specific, independent accusations turn out to be false – we view him as a sleazy, sexist creep because he has told us.

“Don’t be afraid of your own sexuality,” we see him tell a guest on his chatshow, in a clip dug up by Dispatches. “Do be a bit afraid of mine though.” During an interview on Conan O’Brien’s US talkshow, Brand told the host: “You don’t wanna be around when the laughter stops.” One old standup routine, joking about enjoying “them blowjobs where mascara runs a little bit”, spookily echos the exact words of one of the programme’s allegations.

The title In Plain Sight has been carefully chosen. Dispatches has found further evidence of Brand not hiding his misogyny, drawn from the same stint as a Radio 2 presenter that led to his biggest previous controversy in 2008, when he was fired for broadcasting crass voicemails he’d left for the actor Andrew Sachs. In retrospect, it is amazing Brand lasted as long as he did: Dispatches plays the audio of him making demeaning sexual remarks about his show’s female newsreader, and conducting an interview with a celebrity guest where he joked about sending his (named) female assistant to visit the star, stripped naked. The interviewee in question: Jimmy Savile.

Speaking to Dispatches, former BBC One controller Lorraine Heggessey boggles in retrospect at Brand’s broadcasts: “A predator, live on air on Radio 2.” Previous entertainment-industry exposes have largely concentrated on the 1970s and 80s; passing off the grim sexism of the late 00s as a distant bygone era is more difficult.

The warning about not ignoring red flags, and not indulging toxic behaviour to prioritise talent or fame, is a strong one, with acute relevance to a comedy world still riddled with misogyny: the only performer willing to be interviewed about the problem for Dispatches is Daniel Sloss, who is already known for including serious oratory about male violence in his standup routines. Why work still needs to be done – Brand is not the only comedian whose alleged behaviour is often described as an “open secret” in the industry – is summed up by a female Dispatches contributor, musing on women who might have embarked on a comedy career, met Russell Brand, then sought other employment. “Culturally, what are we missing?”.

That bafflement that the allegations took so long to come to light! This idea of Brand’s behaviour being in plain sight. One looks at some of the clips in that documentary and it is really disturbing. Someone who was given free pass and so many opportunities in spite of his abuse, grooming and assaults, let’s hope there is a reckoning where Brand is imprisoned and any other men in the entertainment industry who are similar to Brand (a police investigation has begun, so it is being handled by the authorities at the moment). The Times have written several pieces about Russell Brand. The findings in the Channel 4 come from a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Dispatches. From articles where The Times talk about Brand’s followers almost as being in a cult, to a moving and disturbing interview, where a woman reveals Brand raped her. It chills the blood! I think that people should subscribe to The Times, as these articles accompany years of research and costs to bring all this evidence and testimony to light. It has taken so much hard work and dedication to ensure that Russell Brand’s string of assaults and rapes are brought to public attention. Many see this new movement and accusations as a part of the #MeToo movement. This is not something we have seen in Britain lately. We associate #MeToo more with the U.S. and powerful men in film like Harvey Weinstein being brought to justice and imprisoned. Many women came forward to discuss their experiences. Katy Perry (Brand’s ex-wife) and Dannii Minogue respectively called him controlling and a vile predator. It got me thinking about the music industry and how a #MeToo movement and Dispatches-style documentary has not come to light.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Dannii Minogue/PHOTO CREDIT: Pedron Alvarez/The Guardian

There are important and wonderful bodies and organisations in the U.K. that are designed to make women feel safer and ensure that are given a voice. I have mentioned Safe Gigs for Women and Safe Gigs Ireland. There is also the excellent Cactus City and the Independent Society for Musicians. These are essential organisations who are helping make the music industry safer for women. There is no doubt that, like comedy and the entertainment industry, there are many male predators. So many artists and those in the industry who have been accused of sexual crimes. Many others of harassment and stalking. Reading a recent feature by Laura Barton for The Guardian relating to her experience with a stalker made me realises the level and depth of harassment through the industry. From female journalists having their lives made hell, through to women being raped by high-profile artists, there is so much that needs tackling and addressing. Thinking about Dispatches and how it shone a light on the sexual crimes Russell Brand has been accused of – and, in my view, is undoubtedly guilty of -, I wonder when that is coming to music. For all we know, there might be an investigation taking place. Something that will form the part of a T.V. documentary.

PHOTO CREDIT: Brett Sayles/Pexels

The #MeToo movement never really reached music. There was a brief moment, yet it never materialised and spread internationally and sustained. After such an important investigation from Channel 4, The Sunday Times and The Times, many on social media looked to the music industry and some of the predatory men who are still working. If artists such as slowthai – who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape have been blocked from radio stations and are not performing whilst they await trial -, there are others, like Brand, in plain sight without restrictions. If anything, there is an even more massive problem of sexual assault and rape in the music industry. So many men who have committed crimes through the years but are still working. There is an epidemic and wave of sexual abuse happening right now. D.J. broadcaster and author Annie Mac and artist Rebecca Ferguson gave evidence to Misogyny In Music inquiry recently:

“Previous sessions in this inquiry took evidence from music festival organisers, music industry representatives, organisations that support women in music and academics.

The inquiry aims to uncover how attitudes can filter through to society, impacting attitudes towards and treatment of women and girls, including at live music events. MPs are exploring what steps can be taken to improve attitudes and treatment of women working in music.

Annie Macmanus, DJ, broadcaster and writer, was asked if the music industry needed to undergo the MeToo scrutiny that the film sector has received in recent years.

IN THIS PHOTO: Annie Mac/PHOTO CREDIT: Stephanie Sian-Smith

“There needs to be some sort of shift in women feeling like they're able to speak out without their careers being compromised,” she told MPs, referring to the music industry rather than the broadcast sector in which she has worked. “I don't know how that can happen. I feel like there are a lot of revelations that have not been exposed. It's infuriating the amount of women who just have stories of sexual assault, they just had to bury them and carry them, it's just unbelievable. So I do think if something were to happen, if one person were to speak that had enough profile where it got media attention, there could be a kind of tidal wave of it. Definitely.”

Rebecca Ferguson, a former X Factor contestant, has been vocal about her experience as a woman in the music industry. She has supplied written evidence to the inquiry.

Ferguson has called for a parliamentary inquiry into the way the music industry operates in the hope of “protecting artists” in the future. She met with former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries to discuss her concerns.

IN THIS PHOTO: Rebecca Ferguson/PHOTO CREDIT: PA

Speaking to MPs today via video link, Rebecca Ferguson said the government has made progress on the issue of safeguarding.

“I would say so, yes,” she said. “I do think that the roundtable meetings that were set up did definitely improve the industry. I know that a lot of the labels, like Sony, for instance, set up things for people that were struggling with maybe mental health issues or people that were just genuinely struggling in the industry. They could go to somebody independently and Sony were paying for for them to receive help.

“So I do think it pushed the industry to do better. I don't know if it’s enough though. I know that CIISA [Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority] has been set up, and I was really vocal and tried to push that through and that’s going ahead, which is amazing. But I do think that there should be somebody, maybe from the [Department for Culture, Media & Sport] or someone from the government, that sits on top of that maybe a bit like Ofcom. I feel like it should be governed by government, because a lot of the funding for these regulators comes from the industry and it worries me about the amount of power that the industry has. So I think CIISA’s amazing, and I back that 100%, but I do think we should add one other layer of protection for that”.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Alexander Krivitskiy/Pexels

When is this reckoning coming to the music industry?! With so many great but disconnected bodies and figures stating how there is this toxicity and problem in the industry, there has not been a massive investigation or movement. I know that Russell Brand is the figure in question regarding the Dispatches investigation, though it will lead to other men through comedy and entertainment being called out. The amazing and brave women who recalled their experiences – which must have bene hugely emotional and triggering – were called out by some on social media as being opportunist or liars. This is what women have to face when they say they have been sexually assaulted or raped. The fact is this: we all need to believe women! It does not matter who they are talking about and how popular that person is. Nobody should be beyond justice and untouchable. This messianic persona that Russel Brand has built up has seen people leaping to his defence. As Marina Hyde writes in The Guardian, we need to learn lessons from this. The same can very much be true of music. I asked on social media whether now is the time that we need to see this fight and joined-up campaign to bring predators in music to justice. Many women who have talked about their experiences are tired. They have told it so many times – to police, the media or people online – and are either not believe or do not get justice. I get that there is a fatigue and sense of hopelessness. At such a watershed moment, and with public figures like Annie Mac and Rebecca Ferguson detailing the extent of the problem that is growing like a virus through the industry, abusive artists need to be stopped.

Those who defended Russell Brand means that the women who have already bravely recounted their experiences have to deal with so much hate and doubt online. I know there is a risk that women who come forward against people In the industry face that. This year already has seen artists such as Rex Orange County (who has a sexual assault charge against him dropped), Jimmie Allen, and Anti-Flag's Justin Sane of abuse. One thing that has come about online following accusations against Russell Brand is this ‘innocent until proven guilty’ line. The fact is that he has been shown as guilty through the evidence found during Dispatches’ investigation. As campaigner Gina Martin highlighted, this line is employed to “quash healthy and warranted discussion, instead of how it should be used: only ever as a legal maxim during trial”. Like in the entertainment industry, there does need to be a way of women finding out who is unsafe, predatory and abusive before it goes to trial. Before they are abused and raped. There definitely needs to be action and a concerted and immediate plan to shame and out those in music who are abusers, in addition to ensuring women are safe and there is a way of flagging men in the industry who pose a danger.

 IN THIS PHOTO: D.J. Tim Westwood/PHOTO CREDIT: Lia Toby/PA

Like Russell Brand, there are these men in music who have been accused or assault and rape who are still working and have received no real limitation and reduction in their workload. D.J. Tim Westwood is perhaps one of the most high-profile men in music who is very much under the spotlight. It is clear that he is someone who should not still be being booked at events. And yet, someone who has been accused of sexual offences continues to work:

“A sixth report of sexual offences by the former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood is being investigated by police.

The Metropolitan Police said they are investigating six accusations of non-recent sexual offences which are alleged to have happened between 1982 and 2016.

It comes after the 65-year-old was questioned for a third time under police caution two weeks ago.

There has been no arrest.

Last year, BBC News and Guardian investigations uncovered multiple allegations from 18 women of serious sexual misconduct and abuse by Westwood. He denied those allegations.

In April 2022, several women accused Westwood, who also worked as a DJ on BBC Radio 1Xtra, of predatory and unwanted sexual behaviour and touching, in incidents between 1992 and 2017.

They also accused him of abusing his position in the music industry. Some of the women told us they encountered Westwood when they were under 18. One said that she was only 14 when Westwood first had sex with her.

He joined the BBC in 1994 but left in 2013 as part of scheduled changes.

Westwood then went on to present a Capital Xtra radio show but stepped down in April last year.

An external report, by KC Gemma White, looking at what the BBC did and did not know about Westwood's conduct during his two-decade employment with the corporation is due to be published this year”.

The truth is that there are many more men in the industry who are in plain sight; still operating and have careers in spite of assaulting and abusing women. There is this real breaking point where I don’t think that can be the case. As I said, there are a lot of great people working to make change and protect women. Whether it is an established #MeToo movement, a documentary where some women in the industry come forward – thus leading to change and accountability – or something else, there are too many men getting away with their crimes and the women they have abused feeling scared or worried - that, if they told police, they would not be believed. The statistic are shocking. A 2022 report showed that “New scorecards show under 1% of reported rapes lead to conviction – criminologist explains why England's justice system continues to fail. In England and Wales, more than 99% of rapes reported to police do not end in a conviction”. You can read the statistics when it comes to the prolificacy of rape and sexual assault.

I do feel it is only a matter of time before we see many men within music being spotlighted and accused of rape and sexual assault. We are in a time where women feel unsafe and unheard. Sexual assault also happens a lot at gigs and live music events. There does need to be a large-scale reaction that finds its way to the police and the government. Thanks to Rosamund Urwin, Charlotte Wace, and Paul Morgan-Bentley for their tireless and vital work for The Times. I think that the outcome of the investigations against Russell Brand will see a lot of positive change. This needs to happen in music. Things cannot go on like they have. There are countless victims that have been scarred and abused by men in the industry. Rather than – as has been the case on social media from a lot of people – doubt the validity of their stories, their motives for speaking now (and not when the attacks took place) and not going to the police, we all need to realise that these women face huge scrutiny and risks if they were fabricating things. The fact is they were not. Rather than call out these victims and question their stories, every one of us needs to…

 PHOTO CREDIT: cottonbro studio/Pexels

BELIEVE women.

Sam Liddicott