The Great British Bake Off presenter Noel Fielding has said he was “horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes” and has had no contact with his fellow comedian “for many years”.
In the early ۲۰۰۰s, Fielding often worked with Brand, who was sentenced to more than ۱۰ years in prison on Monday for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
In a statement issued to the Sun, Fielding said: “I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.
“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.
“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him, I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”
Footage has recently resurfaced of Fielding and Brand joking about rape with the TV presenter Jonathan Ross on an episode of the Big Fat Quiz of the Year in ۲۰۰۷. Brand also joked with Fielding about kissing and holding an underage grasshopper on an episode of The Russell Brand Show which aired in October ۲۰۰۷.
Fielding, a frequent guest and co-host on the BBC Radio ۲ show, said: “How do you even know if it’s a child or an adult? You don’t even care, do you?”
after newsletter promotion
Brand, who was ۳۲ at the time, replied: “It’s a mistake I’ve made. I’ve had a lot of problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age. Before I know it, I’m in it, right, I’m kissing it, I’m holding it. Then it turns around and looks at me with onyx eyes and says: ‘I’m ۱۲.’”
The pair had met at the NME Awards in the early ۲۰۰۰s and often performed at charity gigs as a comedy duo known as The Goth Detectives.
Fielding has never been accused of misconduct and there is no suggestion he knew about Brand’s behaviour towards women. Since his conviction, Brand was accused of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour by a further six women in a new investigation by the Times and the Sunday Times.
-
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on ۰۸۰۸ ۵۰۰ ۲۲۲۲ in England and Wales, ۰۸۰۸ ۸۰۱ ۰۳۰۲ in Scotland, or ۰۸۰۰ ۰۲۴۶ ۹۹۱ in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on ۸۰۰-۶۵۶-۴۶۷۳. In Australia, support is available at ۱۸۰۰Respect (۱۸۰۰ ۷۳۷ ۷۳۲). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
