YouTube announced Tuesday that it has demonetized Russell Brand and blocked him from earning money on the social media platform.
“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,” YouTube said in a statement.
The company confirmed the action is related to “serious allegations” made against Brand.
Brand’s main YouTube channel boasts more than 6.6 million subscribers. The account is likely a significant source of income, which is now cut off. YouTube said its decision “applies to all channels that may be owned or operated by Russell Brand.”
Over the weekend, multiple British news outlets published a joint investigation into the 48-year-old British comedian in which multiple women accused Brand of sexual assault and rape. The alleged incidents took place between 2006 and 2013.
According to the story, the women “felt ready to speak only after being approached by reporters. Several said they felt compelled to do so given Brand’s newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer, with millions of followers on YouTube and other sites.”
Brand has vehemently denied the allegations.
He said in a video over the weekend that all of his relationships have been “absolutely, always consensual.” He accused the media of “trying to construct” a “coordinated attack” against him.
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Since the allegations surfaced, Brand’s management agency has dropped him, and his book publisher has suspended “all future publishing” with Brand. The BBC even removed some content involving Brand.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police in London confirmed a police report was filed on Sunday — one day after the joint investigation was published — about a sexual assault in 2003 allegedly involving Brand, the BBC reported.
The Metropolitan Police, however, have not confirmed a formal investigation into the allegations or Brand.
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