Russell Brand: From comedy stardom to the courtroom, in photos

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.