Russell Brand’s book deal with a British publishing imprint has been suspended following reports that the actor and comedian has been accused of sexual assault, the Bookseller reports.
Bluebird, a nonfiction imprint of London-based Pan Macmillan, paused Brand’s book deal. The press had previously published two books by the comedian, Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions and Mentors: How to Help and Be Helped. It planned to publish a workbook version of Recovery; as of Monday morning, a page for the book was still up on the publisher’s website.
Over the weekend, the British newspaper the Times, in collaboration with Channel 4’s program Dispatches, ran an investigative report about Brand in which four women accused the comedian of “rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse” between 2006 and 2013. One of the women said she was 16 when Brand allegedly groomed and assaulted her.
Brand has denied the allegations. In a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, before the Times report was published, he said he refuted what he called the “astonishing, rather baroque attacks” against him, and suggested he was being accused because of his contrarian views on social and political issues.
Brand, known for his roles in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, is a prolific author. He made his literary debut in 2007 with My Booky Wook, and has published titles including Irons in the Fire, Articles of Faith, and Revolution.
In a statement, his current publisher said, “These are very serious allegations and in the light of them, Bluebird has taken the decision to pause all future publishing with Russell Brand."
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
