Russell Brand has advised his on-line followers it has been a “distressing” week, in a video breaking his silence after sexual assault allegations have been made in opposition to him.

In a brief video shared on YouTube and different social media web sites, he briefly addresses the claims levelled at him by the Channel 4 Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation, saying: “Obviously, it’s been an extraordinary and distressing week.”

It comes after a Sky News unique, wherein one woman has alleged Brand “ripped holes” in her tights and “refused to call her a taxi until she performed a sex act”.

The comic appeared on stage in London final weekend and referred to the allegations popping out in opposition to him. But he told fans at the time there have been “certain things” he “can’t discuss” and has in any other case saved a low profile.

Companies and charities have cut ties with him, as additional claims have come out all through the week.

Before the primary allegations have been revealed, Brand revealed a video insisting his relationships had always been consensual.

In the brand new video launched tonight, Brand claims the British authorities “asked big tech platforms to censor our online content”.

He talks concerning the authorities’s Online Safety Bill, which he mentioned has been handed. The regulation in query has not but acquired Royal Assent.

Brand additionally urges individuals to observe him on another platform, Rumble – which has not demonetised him, in contrast to YouTube, owned by Google, which limited Brand’s ability to make money from his content, usually derived from adverts, earlier within the week following the allegations in opposition to him.

The video ends with Brand saying – “I need your support now more than ever – more than I ever imagined I would” – and the comic implores his followers to “stay free”.

More allegations have been made because the authentic claims emerged final weekend, and the Metropolitan Police has since had a complaint.

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New claims in Sky News unique

Sarah, whose identify has been modified, claims she met Brand on an aeroplane the place he “seemed friendly and charming”.

He invited her for breakfast and a stroll after the flight and she or he agreed to journey in his limousine.

“He changed,” she says, “like he wasn’t friendly and charming in the limo. He was aggressive and I felt very vulnerable and intimidated.”

She describes Brand “jumping” on her.

“The limo driver was turning around a few times because I was saying no, but he ripped a hole – more than one hole – in the tights that I was wearing,” she says.

Sarah says they drove straight to Brand’s home the place that they had consensual intercourse.

“I mean, it was consensual. I didn’t say no,” she mentioned, “but I feel like there’s a fine line between being forced and being coerced, you know, like being in a situation where the only way out is just to get it over and done with and leave.”

She claimed Brand then refused to name her a taxi till she carried out oral intercourse on him.

Sky News has reached out to Russell Brand’s representatives for remark.