Actor Russell Brand is facing a lawsuit alleging sexual assault on the set of the 2011 movie Arthur. The lawsuit was filed on Friday by a woman identified as Jane Doe in the Supreme Court of the State of New York. According to Doe’s affidavit, Brand appeared intoxicated and exposed his penis to her in full view of the cast, crew, and employees of the movie’s production teams and Warner Bros. She also claimed that Brand sexually assaulted her in a bathroom while a member of the production crew guarded the door. The lawsuit names Brand and several production companies as defendants. Brand has not publicly addressed the allegations, and representatives for Warner Bros. and the production companies have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
The movie Arthur, directed by Jason Winer, is a romantic comedy and a remake of a 1981 film. It starred Russell Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Nick Nolte, Greta Gerwig, and others. In her affidavit, Jane Doe stated that the sexual abuse has caused her extreme embarrassment, shame, and fear, and has made it difficult for her to trust others. She expressed concern about potential retaliation if her name were publicly associated with a sexual assault claim against a celebrity with a large social media following. Jane Doe’s attorney also filed a separate affidavit requesting that the court allow her to prosecute her claims without disclosing her identity.
This lawsuit comes after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and UK current affairs show Dispatches revealed allegations of rape, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse against Brand by five women between 2006 and 2013. Brand previously refuted these allegations in a video statement, describing them as extremely egregious and aggressive attacks. The investigation led to the postponement of some of Brand’s Bipolarisation tour dates, and additional claims were subsequently made by other women.
Brand has not publicly addressed the recent lawsuit or any of the other allegations against him since his initial video statement.
