Britain Russell Brand
FILE - Sean "Diddy" Combs, right, and British actor Russell Brand sit together before the junior welterweight title boxing match between British boxer Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, of the Philippines, Saturday, May 2, 2009, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
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Russell Brand's convictions renew spotlight on media — and a culture — that may have looked away
Russell Brand's convictions this week for rape and sexual assault have renewed scrutiny on the BBC and other media employers that may have looked the other way. Brand, who gained fame while cultivating an outrageous persona, was convicted Thursday on multiple charges involving several women. The BBC has apologized for a culture that allowed his behavior to go unchecked. An internal probe followed a joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4, which aired accusations from women who said they were abused by Brand. Analysts argue that Brand's raunchy image acted as a shield, allowing his excesses to be overlooked by employers and the public, too.
