Russell Brand has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a film extra on the New York City set of the 2011 romantic comedy Arthur.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, was brought in state court under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which gives accusers a one-year window to sue over alleged non-recent sexual abuse, even if statutes of limitations have expired.
The suit follows a recent flurry of allegations reported in the British media against the 48-year-old actor and comedian by several women accusing him of sexual assault and inappropriate behaviour, during a seven-year period, between 2006 and 2013.
Brand has denied accusations made by four women in an investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches and said his relationships were always consensual.
British police said they were investigating some allegations. No arrests have been made.
Brand’s representatives in New York and London did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Reuters news agency on the newly filed lawsuit.
Warner Bros Pictures, which distributed the film Arthur, was also named as a defendant, along with other companies involved in the film production. They were accused of negligence and of aiding and abetting Brand by tolerating his misconduct on the set. Warner Bros did not respond to a request for comment from the Reuters news agency.
The complaint was brought by a woman identified only as Jane Doe, who said she was hired to appear as a cast “extra” in a scene.
The film was a remake of a 1981 movie starring Dudley Moore in the title role.
The lawsuit alleges that Brand was visibly intoxicated during the production and exposed his genitalia to the plaintiff as he sat at a table staring at her, “openly and obviously in the presence of everyone on set”, including film studio employees who treated his behaviour as acceptable.
Afterwards, the complaint alleges, Brand followed the woman into a restroom, where he again pulled down his pants, then shoved her into a stall and forced her to perform oral sex on him.
The accuser says the assault caused “severe psychological injuries” and economic losses. The suit seeks unspecified money damages from Brand on grounds of assault, battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress.
Brand, the former husband of the US pop singer Katy Perry and once one of Britain’s most high-profile comedians and broadcasters, has repositioned himself in recent years as an internet social commentator, with more than 6 million followers on his YouTube channel.
YouTube in September said it had blocked Brand from earning further revenues from the online video platform in light of his alleged sexual misconduct.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
