Russell Model has been accused of rape and sexual assault in alleged incidents on the peak of his fame.
After beginning out in stand-up, Model gained notoriety because the host of Massive Brother spin-off Massive Brother’s Massive Mouth between 2004 and 2007. Throughout these years, he additionally introduced varied exhibits on MTV, E4 and BBC Radio, earlier than touchdown roles in Hollywood films like 2008’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek.
Lately, the comic is healthier identified for his political activism and YouTube channel – the place he has over 6million subscribers. His movies have been criticised for peddling conspiracy theories on politics and the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the allegations towards Russell Model?
Russell Model has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse throughout a seven-year interval between 2006 and 2013.
The allegations, which have been revealed in a joint investigation by The Sunday Occasions, the Occasions and Channel 4’s Dispatches, are from 4 girls. Model has denied the accusations.
One of many accusers alleged that Model raped her in 2012 in his Los Angeles dwelling. The lady, who was handled at a rape disaster centre on the identical day, stated she didn’t report the alleged rape to police on the time as a result of she was scared as a result of his fame.
One other girl claimed Model had assaulted her throughout an emotionally abusive three-month relationship, whereas he was 31 and she or he was aged 16. Talking within the Dispatches documentary, the girl, who remained nameless, claimed Model as soon as “compelled his penis down her throat”, which precipitated her to punch him within the abdomen to make him cease.
A 3rd girl, who labored for Model, stated he sexually assaulted her in Los Angeles. She additionally claimed he threatened to take authorized motion if she informed anybody else in regards to the alleged incident.
A fourth girl alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Model, and accused him of being bodily and emotionally abusive in direction of her.
As a part of the investigation, a number of others accused the comic of allegedly abusive, predatory and inappropriate behaviour within the office. These embody claims from TV researchers and runners working at Channel 4, who alleged that Model would get workers to method younger feminine viewers members so he might meet them after filming.
A runner additionally claimed Model flashed his penis and implied she might give him oral intercourse when she walked into his dressing room.
On Monday (September 18), London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they’d acquired a report referring to an alleged sexual assault in 2003.
The Met police have stated they acquired a report on Sunday of an alleged sexual assault from 2003 following @channel4dispatches and @TheTimes investigation about Russell Model.
They are saying they’re in touch with the girl and can be offering her with help. #C4Dispatches
— Channel 4 Dispatches (@C4Dispatches) September 18, 2023
A spokesperson for the Met (through the BBC) stated: “We’re conscious of reporting by The Sunday Occasions and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offences.
“On Sunday, September 17, the Met acquired a report of sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in touch with the girl and can be offering her with help.”
What has Russell Model stated in response?
On Friday (September 15) earlier than the investigation was revealed, Model denied what he termed “very severe prison allegations” in a video on his YouTube channel. The comic stated the allegations have been outlined in two “extraordinarily disturbing letters” to him from a “mainstream media TV firm” and a newspaper.
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, moderately baroque assaults are some very severe allegations that I completely refute,” Model stated.
“These allegations pertain to the time after I was working within the mainstream, after I was within the newspapers on a regular basis, after I was within the films, and as I’ve written about extensively in my books, I used to be very, very promiscuous.”
That is taking place pic.twitter.com/N8zIKLbJN2
— Russell Model (@rustyrockets) September 15, 2023
“Now throughout that point of promiscuity the relationships I had have been completely, all the time consensual. I used to be all the time clear about that then, nearly too clear, and I’m being clear about it now as effectively. To see that transparency metastasized into one thing prison, that I completely deny, makes me query – is there one other agenda at play?”
He added: “I don’t thoughts them utilizing my books and my stand-up to speak about my promiscuous consensual conduct prior to now. What I severely refute are these very, very severe prison allegations.
Model additionally claimed he knew of witnesses whose proof “immediately contradicts the narrative that these two mainstream media retailers are attempting to assemble”, in what he deemed as a “coordinated assault”.
“I really feel like I’m being attacked, and clearly, they’re working very carefully collectively,” he added.
What have the BBC and Channel 4 stated?
After the report was revealed, the BBC, Channel 4 and manufacturing firm Banijay UK all introduced they’d launched inner investigations into the allegations.
In an announcement, a BBC spokesperson stated: “The documentary and related studies contained severe allegations, spanning quite a few years.
“Russell Model labored on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we’re urgently trying into the problems raised.”
In an announcement, Channel 4 stated: “[We are] appalled to be taught of those deeply troubling allegations together with behaviour alleged to have taken place on our programmes made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007.
“We’re decided to know the complete nature of what went on. We’ve carried out in depth doc searches and have discovered no proof to recommend the alleged incidents have been delivered to the eye of Channel 4. We’ll proceed to evaluate this in mild of any additional info we obtain, together with the accounts of these affected people.
“We’ve requested the manufacturing firm who produced the programmes for Channel 4 to research these allegations and report their findings correctly and satisfactorily to us. Channel 4 can also be conducting its personal inner investigation, and we might encourage anybody who’s conscious of such behaviour to contact us immediately.”
Banijay UK, which purchased Endemol (the manufacturing firm behind Massive Brother’s Massive Mouth and others) in 2020, stated they’d launched an “pressing inner investigation”.
Channel 4 has additionally eliminated all episodes of exhibits that includes Model from its streaming service.
For assist, recommendation or extra info concerning sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Disaster charity web site. Within the US, go to RAINN.
