A SCOTTISH comedian has claimed that female comics within the industry warned others about Russell Brand in WhatsApp groups.
It comes after the 48-year-old comedian was accused by four women of sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.
Brand also faces allegations of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour, following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.
Russell Brand (below) denied the allegations and said that his relationships have all been consensual ahead of the television show airing on Saturday night.
Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss was the only person on Channel 4's Dispatches documentary who did not conceal his identity.
He said that he first heard the rumours circulating within the industry more than a decade ago.
Sloss claims female comedians set up WhatsApp groups to warn others of those they have worked with – including Brand – from uncomfortable experience to predatory behaviour.
"I know for many. many years women have been warning each other about Russell," Sloss said.
He added that there were “many stories with varying degrees of severity” he had heard from a number of people in the comedy circuit.
He said: “He was a big name, big big household name. If you were a comedian and got to gig with him you'd be gigging with a celebrity.
“I'm stood in bars with agents, promoters, channel commissioners and I'm hearing these allegations and rumours with Russell in the same room, and later on he would be on a movie, on a television show, he would be hosting something. He was still being employed.”
Sloss also took aim at those “higher up in authority”.
He said: “Questions that should have been asked about Russell before he was employed for certain things, I do not believe they were asked.
“I know that there are comedians who did references in jokes to Russell's alleged crimes and have either been asked or told not to do those jokes anymore.”
Before Channel 4 aired Russell Brand: In Plain Sight, the comedian posted a video online, denying the allegations and stating all of his relationships have been consensual. He alsoaccused the media of a “coordinated attack”.
