As Russell Brand’s Begins a 10-Year Prison Sentence, Why Celebrities Fear the Power of an Exposé

A joint investigation by Channel 4’s “Dispatches” and The Sunday Times published serious allegations against Russell Brand in 2023, after which police began investigating him. He has now been sentenced for one rape and three sexual assaults, a case that has renewed debate about how media investigations can bring alleged misconduct by celebrities to public attention and prompt official scrutiny.

The article compares Brand’s case with those of former BBC presenter Huw Edwards, who was convicted of making indecent images, and Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of all nine sexual-assault charges tried in the UK; Spacey denies misconduct and has faced other legal actions. It also reports that David Walliams unsuccessfully sought to block publication of an investigation, arguing it could lead him to take his own life. The Guardian’s report, published on the day of the article, alleges that Walliams groomed young fans and harassed women; he was not found guilty by the injunction ruling, which did not determine whether the allegations were true.