A resurfaced radio clip has gone viral following Russell Brand’s sentencing for rape, in which the comedian was heard joking about “dragging a woman into a cubicle”.
Brand, 51, was jailed on Monday (9 November) for more than 10 years after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault, over offences that date back to a period between 2004 and 2009.
In the clip, which has since circulated on social media, Brand can be heard joking on his BBC Radio 2 show about indecent exposure.
Talking with radio presenter Matt Morgan, Brand mentions Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless, with whom he worked on the 2008 comedy film Bedtime Stories.
“She'll surprise you, Matt, because the actress playing Xena Warrior Princess, you think she’ll be a nice bit of crumpet. Dolly bird, you know. But know, she’s smart as a whip. She’s bright as a button.”
When Morgan asked if Brand has a “crush” on her, the comedian replied: “She’s a bit in control of herself.”
“Not the ones you like,” remarked Morgan, prompting Brand to say: “I won’t be able to drag her off into a cubicle and show her my pubicles.”
Morgan then asks: “How long ago did you do that last?”
“Been a long while, Matt,” Brand responds, with his co-presenter adding: “Twenty-five minutes since he showed his willy to a lady.”
In 2023, a woman who was not a BBC employee but worked in the same building – at the broadcaster’s Los Angeles studios – alleged that Brand had exposed himself to her minutes before the clip was recorded.
The woman, referred to in reports by the pseudonym Olivia, says that Brand told her “I'm going to f*** you” before exposing his penis.
Speaking to The Times in 2023, Olivia said that she did not report the incident at the time due to a fear of repercussions.
“I’d like to think my employer would have backed me, but I was worried that if I had gone up against him [Brand] and lost, I would have been responsible for any costs,” she said. “It was a very different time and culture. There were also elements of embarrassment that this creep did this to me. It was shame.”
The incident was not investigated by the BBC at the time, but after Olivia reported it to the BBC in 2019, Brand was reportedly banned from the BBC’s LA bureau.
The BBC said: “We published a detailed report in January 2025 into how complaints about Russell Brand’s conduct were handled. This looked at eight allegations of misconduct while he worked here between 2006 and 2008.
“It was of great concern to us that some people felt unable to raise concerns about Brand’s behaviour. We apologised to those impacted, for both the culture and failings at the time, and we reiterate that apology again today.”
Morgan, meanwhile, said in 2023 that he was “not aware until now of the nature of this encounter.”
“I have expressed my regret now looking back at the impact of the show, and this is a further example,” he said. “The recent coverage has been very distressing to read and I reiterate my absolute condemnation of any form of mistreatment of women.”
At his trial, Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison, and will not be eligible for parole until two-thirds of his sentence has been served.
One of the convictions related to the sexual assault of a woman who worked for MTV, when Brand grabbed her breasts at a party in London in 2004, though he was deemed not guilty of orally raping her in the toilets subsequently.
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman working at the radio station Choice FM in 2004 or 2005.
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Read MoreJimmy Carr derided for ‘despicable’ Russell Brand joke after rapist’s conviction
The Russell Brand joke that was edited out of Gavin & Stacey
Vanessa Feltz speaks out as Russell Brand's comments about daughter, 15, resurface
Oasis to skip Rock Hall of Fame ceremony as Liam would 'rather stack the dishwasher'
Alan Titchmarsh pays tribute after death of Ground Force co-star
Celebrity Traitors and Amandaland among shows nominated for Rose d’Or Swards
