Entertainment · Celebrity · 23 mins ago
StoryFirst pursued Russell Brand despite a warning about allegations
Screenwriter and comedian Katy Brand says she warned StoryFirst about Russell Brand in November 2021.
StoryFirst had commissioned her to adapt a book into a comedy about a group of pensioners, and was considering Russell Brand for a role.
She says she told a producer there were “problematic rumours and allegations” and that she did not want him cast.
The company continued trying to recruit him, with Lord Grade involved in efforts to persuade him and a producer telling her agent they would handle the matter carefully.
Katy Brand says she is speaking out to show how difficult it was to make progress with complaints in the past.
Russell Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault and jailed for 10 years and six months, according to the report.
Police are also investigating him after at least eight other women accused him of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour.
StoryFirst pursued Russell Brand for a role in a comedy despite screenwriter Katy Brand warning the company about rumours and allegations concerning his behaviour.
Katy Brand said she raised her concerns with a StoryFirst producer in November 2021 and did not want Brand cast.
The company continued its effort, and in January 2022 told her agent it would handle the situation carefully if Brand accepted the role.
The show, The Grey Team, was about a group of pensioners and was adapted from a book.
The article says Russell Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault and jailed for ten years and six months.
- Who
- StoryFirst pursued Russell Brand for a role. Screenwriter Katy Brand said she warned a producer about allegations concerning his behaviour.
- What
- The production company sought to cast Brand in The Grey Team despite her warning.
- When
- StoryFirst approached Brand in 2021; Katy Brand said she raised concerns in November 2021. The company told her agent in January 2022 it would handle the matter carefully.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- StoryFirst wanted Brand for a role as “a bit of disruptive casting” and believed the part might appeal to his acting ambitions.
StoryFirst
Katy Brand
Casting Brand
StoryFirst
StoryFirst wanted Brand for a role and continued pursuing him after the warning.
Katy Brand
Katy Brand said there were “problematic rumours and allegations” and that she did not want him cast.
Lord Grade emailed Russell Brand’s agent that the proposed show might appeal to Brand’s acting ambitions.
Katy Brand said she warned a StoryFirst producer about rumours and allegations concerning Russell Brand.
StoryFirst told Katy Brand’s agent it would handle the matter carefully if Brand accepted the role.
- Production company
- StoryFirst
- Proposed show
- The Grey Team, a comedy about a group of pensioners
- Screenwriter
- Katy Brand
- Warning
- Katy Brand said she raised concerns in November 2021
- Proposed role
- Dr M
- Offer to agent
- StoryFirst said in January 2022 it would handle the matter carefully
What people are saying
I told him there were lots of problematic rumours and allegations and they should be very careful. I said I didn’t want him cast.
I am sharing this … because I want to show how hard it was to make any headway with complaints in the past
She is taking me to lunch today… will push hard!
MG is taking the charm offensive on Russell pretty seriously … I think there’s every possibility he’ll [Russell Brand] want to read the new draft, so giving him something fun to play with may be helpful.