Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated that he was unaware of the full extent of Russell Brand's criminal behavior, emphasizing that the comedian has been rightly held accountable for his "horrific" crimes. His comments come after Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday.
Labour's Past Association with Brand
More than a decade ago, some within the Labour Party sought to gain Brand's support before police began investigating him. In the run-up to the 2015 general election, then Labour leader Ed Miliband was interviewed by Brand. In 2014, Burnham, who was then shadow health secretary, posted a tweet supporting Brand after allegations surfaced about the comedian's housing arrangements.
It remains unclear what exactly Burnham was referring to in that tweet, but the previous day, The Sun had claimed that Brand paid rent on a property owned by a landlord in a tax haven while campaigning against tax avoidance. Brand threatened to sue the newspaper and said he would donate the money to victims of the Hillsborough disaster, a cause Burnham has long championed. At the time, Burnham described it as "depressing to see media mission to discredit someone who stops playing their game" and urged Brand to "keep going."
Burnham: 'I Had No Idea'
Asked about that social media post on Friday, Burnham told the BBC: "All I can say is I had no idea of the full extent of what he was doing or what he went on to do." He added: "His crimes are horrific, he's rightly been held to account, justice for the victims and that is the right course that's been taken here. It's not always the case that people know everything about people in public life, but what is important is that where there is wrongdoing it is exposed."
The prime minister also praised the victims and the journalists who uncovered the truth: "Credit to the victims, huge credit, the courage that it's taken, but also the journalists who've exposed this."
Brand Found Not Guilty on Some Charges
Brand was found not guilty of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. During a four-week trial, he faced allegations from six women spanning the decade between 1999 and 2009. The 51-year-old was refused bail and will spend the weekend in custody before returning to the same court on Monday for sentencing.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police chief has said he would not be surprised if more allegations are made against Brand following the rape conviction. Comedian Katherine Ryan has also spoken out, saying she feels "grief and relief" after the conviction. The case has also sparked discussions about how 2000s lad culture allowed Brand to hide in plain sight.
