Russell Brand’s Comedy Tour in U.K. Postponed in Wake of Rape and Assault Allegations

Russell Brand’s upcoming stand-up tour dates have been postponed following allegations that he raped, sexually assaulted and molested multiple women.

The comedian, 48, was due to perform three stand-up shows in the UK over the next two weeks as part of his Bipolarization tour.

“We’re postponing these few remaining addiction charity shows, we hate to do it – but we know you’ll understand,” tour promoters said Monday in a statement shared by the Theater Royal Windsor, where Brand was scheduled to appear Tuesday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Although three upcoming dates have since been postponed, Rock of Ages star went ahead with his scheduled performance at the Troubadour Theater Wembley Park in London on Saturday night. Brand was filmed leaving the venue after the gig and getting into his car, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.

Russell Brand leaves the Troubadour Theater Wembley Park in London on September 16.

James Manning/PA Images via Getty

During his performance, where he received a standing ovation, he thanked the audience of around 2,000 people for coming and said there were certain topics he could not discuss that evening, BBC News reports.

“I really appreciate your support, I love you and I want to put on a fantastic show for you,” he told the crowd, according to the outlet. “I have many things to discuss with you. Obviously there are some things I absolutely cannot discuss, and I appreciate your understanding.”

James Manning/PA Images via Getty

Earlier on Saturday, it was revealed that Brand was the subject of a joint investigation The Sunday Times, Time and UK Channel 4 current affairs show Dispatches in which five women – four of whom remained anonymous – including a 16-year-old girl, accused him of rape, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse.

The incidents allegedly took place between 2006 and 2013 when Brand was working as a film actor and presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4.

Brand strongly denied the allegations in a video posted on social media on Friday.

Russell Brand attends the Fire and Ice Ball in December 2019.

MelMedia/Getty

On Monday, Brand was hit with new accusations, such as Time reported that “several women” had contacted the paper since publishing its investigation into the actor.

British Cabinet Minister Caroline Nokes also called on Scotland Yard to look into the women’s claims against Brando, who said on Monday that the “incredibly shocking and criminal” allegations were “first and foremost a matter for the police”. Time reported. Nokes also noted that “celebrity can act as a shield” in cases like this.

On Monday, Scotland Yard told PEOPLE that London’s Metropolitan Police are “aware of media reports of a number of allegations of sexual abuse.”

“We have not received any reports in this regard at this time,” Scotland Yard added in a statement. “We talked with The Sunday Times on Saturday, September 16. We will make further approaches Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that all crime victims they speak to are aware of how they can report any allegations of crime to the police.”

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Brand said in his video on Friday that he “absolutely refutes” the allegations against him.

“I have received two extremely disturbing letters, or letter and email, one from a mainstream TV station, one from a newspaper, setting out a litany of extremely outrageous and aggressive attacks,” he began. “But amid this litany of stunning, rather baroque attacks, there are some very serious allegations that I absolutely deny.”

Russell Brand denies ‘criminal’ allegations linked to his ‘promiscuous’ past in new video

He also addressed the timeline of the women’s allegations, saying all relationships were “consensual.”

“These allegations refer to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in newspapers all the time, when I was in movies. And as I’ve written about at length in my books, I was very, very promiscuous. Now, during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”

“Back then I was always transparent about it – almost too transparent. And now I’m transparent about it. And to see that this transparency metastasized into something criminal, I absolutely deny that,” he added.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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Source: HIS Education