An anonymous woman has recently filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, accusing actor Russell Brand of sexual assault. The woman, referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, claims that Brand exposed his penis to her and sexually assaulted her in a bathroom while on the set of the 2011 movie, Arthur.
According to Jane Doe’s affidavit, Brand appeared intoxicated and smelled of alcohol while carrying a bottle of vodka on set. He allegedly exposed himself to her in front of the cast, crew, and employees from the movie’s production teams, Warner Bros.
Later that same day, Brand is accused of sexually assaulting Jane Doe in a bathroom while a member of the production crew guarded the door. The woman states that she was booked for three days of work on the movie but was only paid for one day following the alleged assault.
Brand has not publicly addressed the lawsuit, and his representatives have yet to respond to requests for comment. The romantic comedy movie, Arthur, was released in April 2011 and featured performances from Brand, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Nick Nolte, and Greta Gerwig.
Jane Doe claims in her affidavit that the sexual abuse has caused her extreme embarrassment, shame, and fear. She expresses concern about potential negative effects on her career if her name is associated with a sexual assault lawsuit against others in the industry.
The woman also fears retaliation from Brand’s millions of social media followers and requests to prosecute her claims using a pseudonym. In addition to Brand, the lawsuit names production companies MBST Entertainment, BenderSpink, and Langley Park Productions, as well as Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery as defendants.
Jane Doe’s attorney filed a separate affidavit requesting that the court allow the woman to prosecute her claims anonymously due to possible retaliation and shame from her association with the defendants. The attorney states that the woman has already experienced significant pain, shock, shame, and embarrassment due to the sexual abuse she endured.
The lawsuit follows a joint investigation released in September that accused Brand of rape, sexual assault, and abuse by five women between 2006 and 2013. Brand has refuted these allegations and is currently under investigation by U.K. police for harassment, stalking, and sexual assault claims.
The lawsuit against Brand and the production companies is ongoing, and no further comments have been made by any parties involved.
