'There is no HR in comedy': Female comedians speak out after Russell Brand jailed

As Russell Brand begins a jail sentence, female comedians in Scotland say the industry here needs to do more to deal with abuse.

The 50-year-old comedian turned Hollywood actor was sentenced to over ten years in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women.

One of his fans told how she was raped as a 21-year-old by Brand in 2009 at his London home, while female staffers at Channel 4, MTV, and Capital Radio came forward to reveal how they had been sexually assaulted.

Now, STV News has been told there are still problematic men working in the Scottish comedy scene, leaving women to think carefully about how to stay safe. For some – that means a careful choice of gigs to accept, while others have stepped away

Yvonne Hughes has been working as a comedian for around five years, mostly in Glasgow.

In that time, she’s been grabbed by an audience member, had inappropriate suggestions from promoters and experienced unwanted sexual comments from another performer – which he later joked about.

Speaking to STV News, Ms Hughes explained that there is no structure in comedy that allows you to speak out, because there is no one to speak out to.

She said: “There have been several different events where men have acted inappropriately. I’ve had audience members, a male comedian, and a promoter make me feel like I can’t speak out.

“You just feel like there is no one to go to.”

Ms Hughes recalled an incident in which she called the person out directly, but says others might not feel as confident about addressing certain behaviour.

She also said that aspects of the incident were twisted and turned into gossip within the Glasgow comedy scene.

While she says not everyone in comedy is a “sex pest”, female comedians have become accustomed to “rooting out” men who are becoming a problem.

Fellow comedian Hannah Stakes told STV News that comedy is a “micro environment” for misogyny.

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Russell Brand arrives at Southwark Crown Court on November 4

“Being a woman in comedy is incredibly difficult. It’s already a very vulnerable thing to do, and what I’ve found is you’re not afforded the same luxury as your peers in the ability to go out, feel safe and have a nice time.”

Ms Stakes says comedy can attract a “certain predatory type of personality” who build a rapport with people before going on to do harm, citing Russell Brand as an example.

Having been in comedy for around 12 years, Ms Stakes says it has improved, but due to the lack of structure it becomes a “gossipfest”.

She said: “A fellow comic repeatedly texting me at length, saying he just couldn’t stop it because he had ADHD, but the messages contained things like wanting to drink my bath water.

“Well, you have that, and then you have the people who, on his behalf, say he’s very apologetic, but now obviously I do not want to walk into a room with either the people who say he’s apologetic or wherever this man is going to be.”

She says that instead of speaking up, female comedians just step away from the industry, and she herself is selective about the gigs that she performs.

She says that the Brand sentencing should serve as a reminder to predators that “you will always be found out”.

Brand sentencing

On Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan slammed Brand’s “staggering arrogance” as he sentenced him to ten-and-a-half years in prison for rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The judge told Brand: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic.

“You had also become a sexual predator.”

The judge said Brand’s “status protected you” until in 2023 journalists from the Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches first exposed a litany of sexual misconduct, leading to women making complaints to police.

He said Brand harboured a “casual arrogant disregard for any woman’s right to say no to you”, while his fame meant he believed “you could act when you liked and how you liked”.

The judge said the evidence in the case also showed that Brand’s entourage during his celebrity heyday had “indulged your dreadful behaviour”.

The judge imposed a nine-year jail term for the rape, and added on an extra year and a half for the sexual assaults.