Russell Brand sued by extra who claims she was sexually assaulted on set
Russell Brand was accused of sexually assaulting an extra on the set of the 2011 film Arthur.
A lawsuit was filed in New York and is the first charge against Brand in class.
British police still investigating allegations against comedian and presenter after several women made accusations, including rape, against him in September.
Brand previously denied all of these allegations, saying all sex was consensual.
He and his representatives have not yet responded to this lawsuit.
The U.S. case was brought under the Adult Survivors Act, which provides a one-year deadline to pursue legal action over allegations of sexual abuse that occurred long ago.
Warner Brothers, which distributed Arthur, is also named as a defendant, as are other companies involved in making the film.
Allegations in the lawsuit
The lawsuit accuses them of tolerating Brand’s misconduct on set and aiding and abetting the alleged offense. They have not yet commented.
The accuser claims she was hired as an extra for a scene filmed at Le Cirque restaurant in Manhattan in July 2010.
Brand was drunk during filming, according to the lawsuit, and is accused of exposing his genitals in front of everyone while sitting at a table watching the woman.
It is alleged that Brand then followed her into a bathroom where he pulled down her pants and pushed her into a stall, forcing her to have oral sex.
A crew member reportedly stood just outside, as if guarding the door.
The woman – who is seeking unspecified financial damages – claims she suffered “severe psychological injuries” and economic losses after the alleged attack.
Learn more:
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C4 boss: brand allegations are “disgusting”
The first complaints against Brand were made as part of an investigation by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
These facts allegedly occurred when he was at the height of his fame, but no charges were brought.
