As we heard rumblings of Channel 4 exposing someone famous in its Dispatches program, speculations started to fly thick and fast. Many different names were proposed, and for a while it seemed this could be a defining moment in British comedy, exposing the many open secrets about predatory comedians and media personalities.
For me, who did not grow up in Britain but arrived there in the early 2000s, the wave of highly sexualised and explicit comedy that comedians like Russell Brand spouted on national television came as a surprise. I had found the focus on women’s bodies, sexual abuse and coercion offensive and at times frankly disgusting — who could forget the infamous stand-up routine where Brand talked about forced oral sex, making choking sounds onstage to laughter from the audience?
However, since I had grown up in India and was new to the country, I wondered whether I was merely “uptight”. I did not believe that jokes about sexual harassment were funny, but as a feminist I was conflicted if this was all part of the sexual liberation and freedom that women were striving for. Still, I found this brand of comedy revolting — not revolutionary, as many others believed at the time. I always wondered how the women who worked with and around Brand felt about his humour.
Well, now we know. When The Times reported these allegations against Russell Brand — of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse over a seven-year period — many came out to say this had long been an “open secret”, and that women had been warned about Brand. There were also reports of incidents where it had been decided that women should not be assigned a project he was working on. This was meant to protect them. I guess it was easier to cut off women’s livelihoods and careers rather than challenge an established man who had the power and influence.
Even as many thousands of women have come forward to talk about sexual harassment and abuse since #MeToo, it has also become clearer how silence has enabled and protected abusers for decades. There are many who have witnessed these crimes but maintained their silence due to fear or to protect themselves. There is also the fear of retaliation and blowback, which ensures not only victim silence but also witness silence.
Many myths and misconceptions persist about what constitutes sexual violence. In Brand’s case, he has claimed that all the relationships were consensual, even though the women have alleged otherwise. There was also reportedly a relationship between Brand, then in his 30s, and a 16-year-old — over the age of consent in the UK, but very much an age-inappropriate relationship with an imbalance in power dynamics.
As women have come forward in Brand’s case, sceptics have claimed this is a big conspiracy with the oft-repeated question: why have these women taken so long to speak out?
When women come forward, they are often not believed, and these same networks of loyalty and secrecy dismiss their allegations or diminish the seriousness of these crimes; they are encouraged to keep quiet or “get over it”. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that 75% of sexual harassment in American workplaces goes unreported, even though one in four women has faced some sort of workplace sexual harassment.
If there is a culture of silence around a powerful man, it is easier to internalise the shame and guilt and for the women to blame themselves. It is also easier to fall prey to the myths and to question your own testimony around what sexual harassment is, and question whether you are overreacting. As I discuss in my recent book Hysterical, women have been trained, culturally and historically, to be pleasant and not create discomfort for others — they are fearful of being seen as angry and vengeful.
When sexual assaults are reported, a majority of perpetrators will never be convicted. According to data from RAINN, one of the US’ largest anti-sexual violence organisations, out of every 1,000 sexual assaults, only 310 are reported, and 975 perpetrators will walk free. In England and Wales, more than 99% of rapes reported to the police do not end in convictions.
To change these statistics, we have to start believing women and dismantle these power hierarchies that protect predatory men. Networks of silence and complicity have long protected men in power, and it’s easy to see why women might be reluctant to come forward. If we turn a blind eye towards any such incidents and do not speak up, then we are all responsible.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
I recall seeing Brand on shows like ‘The Big fat Quiz’ and ‘8 out of 10 cats Does Countdown.’ For the life of me I could never see the attraction of his ‘personality.’ He seemed violent and far-fetched. The revelations don’t surprise me.
I’m inclined to view this sort of protection network as of a piece with the cosy insulation of the privileged. Sexism is the biggest ism going, second only to one which gets least acknowledged – 99%ism.
Although I guess you could argue that dominator culture is just an extension of patriarchy…
At any rate, to those on the top of the heap, the rest of us are merely livestock. Rules are for the little people.
The awful track record of justice systems concerning the abuse of women more generally throughout society is certainly a result to some extent of rampant, condescending sexism.
But even if that were to be somehow addressed, a large proportion of the guilty would still go free due to the structure of these systems. Obvious answers to this aspect of the problem are in short supply; there are probably a number of minor refinements which could add up to a worthwhile improvement, but it’s hard to see how we could ever dispense with the presumption of innocence or the onus of proof.
To quote Marina Hyde, “For a certain type of mournfully uncool man on the left, Russell Brand was quite the excitement. You only had to watch their little faces in his presence – lit up at being fleetingly indulged by the kind of guy who would probably have bullied them at school.” Brand himself has become an “alt-right frotting wingnut”. Quite. The conspiracy theory, floated by Brand and bought by some gullible people, that this is a conspiracy by (a growing number of unconnected) women to bring him down because he’s a menace to Big Pharma or the Media or whatever, is horsepoo. He is yet another vampire – sorry, predatory misogynist – scared and outraged at being dragged into the light.
Agree. And for those who insist that his behaviour is being scrutinised on behalf of some larger conspiracy are glossing over the fact that it does not mean he hasn’t abused women.
Pff, Marina Hyde and her snotty condescension. I mean, get a load of the names of her parents: Sir Alastair Edgcumbe James Dudley-Williams and Diana Elizabeth Jane Duncan. Not interested in her characterisations of people on the left, in the slightest; true class tr4itors such as Gore Vidal are like hen’s teeth.
The thing I found exciting about Brand was that I’d never heard anyone with an audience as large as his espousing radical leftism, before or since. THAT’S a reason to be excited; the suggestion that such a character might be torn down with manufactured scandals isn’t hugely implausible.
But I hear he’s a Trump supporter these days? I can’t even. SCREW that guy.
Pfft, I think Marina Hyde’s articles are more indicative of her views on the left than the names of her parents, and she tears the Tories into pieces. Fun to read.
Very strange point of view about MsHyde. She’s a (very good) newspaper columnist, not a political figure.
Everyman knew or willingly colluded by turning away – But its a different world in select quarters; post MeToo ? A new persepective but hindsight and new lens does not alter context contemporaneous norms – its like all these people never knew about his sleezy ” actions on the “vulnerable” -His Mania and objectification of women ….Now what about the normalisation of exploited women on- line ; monetized for the corporate top ‘suits’ – making moula out of women – widespread abused who are the internet victims of porn and self gratification for hoards of hormy silencers