Dispatches channel 4 expose **Read Opening Post before posting**

Under 1% of reported rapes in England and Wales result in a conviction. I'd be quite up front in that having read the Times article and watched the programme on Channel 4 last night I have no doubt Russell Brand is a serial rapist and it would take something extremely dramatic to change my mind on that.

For the life of me I will never understand why Russell Brand was so popular over the years. I could never stand him.

I'm not surprised at the serious rape and sexual assaults but ultimately it will be up to a court to find him guilty.

But his overall attitude over the years was simply a sexist bully. A boorish yob who was not only tolerated but celebrated.

Maybe I'm naive but I think the entertainment world seems to have moved on, hopefully.

I thought the program was sensationalist and shoddily put together.

How did Channel 4 unearth and contact these alleged victims in the first place? Why hadn't the women gone to the police rather than take part in a TV program? 

I wonder were the five women paid for their participation and, if so, how much.

It's strange that this hit piece is coming out now when the popularity of his political views is high, rather than several years ago during the metoo movement.

Under 1% of reported rapes in England and Wales result in a conviction

It's a stark figure which looks even worse without context, 93% of all reported crimes never make it to conviction.

One of the main reasons rape crimes do not make it to court is that the alleged victim withdraws their cooperation.

That said the CPS have a 65% conviction rate on rapes that do make to trial.

I'd be quite up front in that having read the Times article and watched the programme on Channel 4 last night I have no doubt Russell Brand is a serial rapist and it would take something extremely dramatic to change my mind on that.

Of course you do, because you have only exclusively heard one side of the story which as I understand came with a sinister soundtrack.

That's what the programme was designed to do. It also helps that Brand is a gigantic díckhead.

TBH I thought the exact same when the allegations against Mendy / Saha were turned into charges, but following the trial it quickly became apparent that the wrong people were in the dock.

He's a YouTube contrarian, that doesn't make him remotely politically notable.

Do you have to have watched the documentary is it that different to the article?

Is there more allegations the article left out?

The "stupidest argument" argument is yours as you have declared you have made up your mind on a story that is a day old.

Surely he is entitled even in the court of public opinion to mount some sort of defence?

You say its stupid to believe the women. OK. Glad we have that sorted.

Jesus. I said no such thing.

Do you normally have such a negative reaction when your opinion is challenged?

That's exactly what you were saying, that it was stupid to have made up your mind that you believe the women.

You said it was stupid to have made up your mind to believe a story that was a day old. But the investigation took four years to produce and it was produced by some of the UK's most respected news gathering organisations.

It's impossible to assert that it's stupid to believe the story without also being of the view that it's stupid to believe the women.

These are what your words mean.

The women have clearly provoked a negative reaction in you.

Mr. Brand has every right of reply. He's chosen not to take it and instead outsource his "reply" to Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, Tommy Robinson, Lozza Fox etc., who have all allege conspiracy against him. His choice. We're more than entitled to infer things from that.

Funny how the RW celebrity crowd - of the same ilk - are throwing their support in the ring, probably to protect themselves from the same future scandals biting at their heels. A sleazy bunch and as RB has flip-flopped so much over the years anyone with a brain can see he stands for nothing other than his own power, celebrity ego and to remain relevant & hero worshipped.

Many years ago I used to like him as a simple run-by-the-mouth entertainer, until he wasn’t. What is it with celebrity god-like nutters? They really are of the same ilk, some clearly more dangerous than others. It’s why some are drawn to the celebrity world in the first place, to hide who they are and get away with it.

Years ago abusers hid in the church - the funny priest, great with kids, speaks up for the community, works the audience.. yeah right!

RB can have millions of followers, but he won't have them, once he's in prison. Don't think the prison officers would allow him a mobile phone.

Well if you can see why many victims dont go to the police, and given the elapsed time, you have answered your own question.

Your accusation of money is completely without merit or foundation. Did you miss the part where the programme criticised C4 itself? Or the point that if they lose a court case over this it would be hugely expensive?

Yeah you had no answer last time either yet continue to repeat the same canard.

We dont have trial by media. We have the media here doing their job and airing credible reports.

Brand is free to vindicate his name in the courts in a trial - a trial weighted in his favour.

Pretty crass remark when we're talking about rape...