Russell Brand has spoken out for the first time since he was hit with a string of sexual abuse allegations last year in a controversial interview.
The comedian has previously denied the accusations on his personal YouTube channel and has now appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show in a 45-minute chat.
Sharing clips on X, Carlson describes the 48-year-old’s conspiracy-laden ‘explanations of the modern world’ as ‘brilliant’.
Quote tweeting the lengthy ramble on politics and the allegations against Brand, radio presenter Carol McGiffin wrote: ‘Tucker’s right, it is brilliant.’
The 63-year-old former Loose Women presenter has previously landed in hot water for showing her support for him and liking tweets calling him a ‘hero’.
In Brand’s first public interview since he was the subject of a Channel 4 and The Times documentary in September, the St Trinian’s actor addressed the allegations against him.
The documentary made public the findings of a joint investigation into Brand’s behaviour at the height of his fame and since this, more women have come forward with accusations of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse.
He continues to vehemently deny any wrongdoing, claiming all encounters were consensual and in the new interview added: ‘Of course, I deny any allegations… that have been advanced. I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms.’
Brand told the Fox News presenter: ‘My son was born with a heart condition, while this was happening he was undergoing heart surgery at 12 weeks old.’
He shares three children with his wife Laura Gallacher – who was a 19-year-old art student when she met the then 30-year-old Brand – including Mabel, seven, Peggy, five, and a three-month-old son.
Describing the crimes as ‘appalling’, he said: ‘I put myself in a vulnerable position by being very promiscuous.
‘Attacks like this, accused of what I consider to be the most appalling crimes, is very painful and hurtful. But there are consequences to the foolish way I lived in the past.’
Brand has maintained that the charges are a ‘deliberate profound attempt to shut down any dissent in an astonishingly aggressive way.’
The Rock of Ages actor is currently under investigation, having reportedly spoken to the Metropolitan Police in November and then again in December.
Despite having his shows removed from streaming platforms and being dropped from deals, Brand has gained a concerningly large following online.
Metro.co.uk exclusively revealed that the Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor has gained 140,000 YouTube subscribers since the documentary was released.
The average number of likes on his YouTube videos increased by 31% from 23,284 in the four months leading up to the accusations going public, to 30,610 since the day of the exposé.
This boost isn’t due to him posting more and driving engagement on his page; the amount of videos he’s posted since the allegations has actually decreased by 35%.
In the wake of the allegations, numerous celebrities spoke out against the Brand, including fellow comedian Ed Byrne.
More Trending
The 51-year-old star told Metro.co.uk: ‘The stuff he allegedly got away with, he allegedly got away with because he was a TV star.
As far as I know, if he was carrying on that way in a dressing room at a comedy club, he would have been dealt with.
‘I know he was a comedian, but to me it’s more about tolerance for this kind of behaviour in the TV industry – he said, making sure he never works in TV again.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: The troubling rise of Russell Brand’s fandom after rape and abuse allegations
MORE: Friends cast’s heartbreaking reaction to Matthew Perry assault allegations
