Sara Pascoe says there are two well-known predators in the comedy industry

18 September 2023 , 11:51

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Sara Pascoe says there are TWO well-known predators in the comedy industry (Image: Channel 4)

Comedian Sara Pascoe claimed there are two well-known predators in the comedy circuit after Russell Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.

Brand, 48, strongly denies the allegations that were made in a joint investigation by Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches. His full statement can be read here. The Get Him To The Greek actor was branded a 'devil', a 'groomer' and a 'narcissist' by his alleged victims - who have claimed sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013 when he was at the height of his fame. He also faces allegations of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour.

The actor claims all his relationships have been consensual. Following the accusations, Pascoe revealed a few comedians tried to 'set up a union' to stop 'predators' in the comedy industry. Those comedians hoped 'a good enough union' would prevent predatory behaviour.

Sara said a number of comedians tried to 'set up a union' to stop 'predators' in the industry (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Pascoe said in an interview with The Independent shared on Saturday: "We kept thinking that’s the problem – if we had a good enough union, there’d be a place where you could go and say ‘there’s this person getting women drunk at festivals and taking advantage of them'."

Due to libel laws, it's made it hard to name an alleged predator without unmistakable evidence and "you can't just tweet about it." She went on to indicate that there is more than one predator in the industry, including "a man that's assaulted men." Last year, Pascoe appeared on Katherine Ryan's Amazon Prime series Backstage with Katherine Ryan.

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Ryan, who has appeared on hit shows including Never Mind The Buzzcocks, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week and Have I Got News For You, explained that she called the man out in front of other colleagues. She opened up to Pascoe about the confession, who admitted that she too was aware of the man's identity.

Ryan, 40, said she wasn't sure what she should have done originally. She said: "I've thought about that, but it's such a messy thing because I don't have proof – what, am I not supposed to feed my children because of someone else?" Sara responded: "Also in that instance that you're referencing it was about raising it," to which Katherine replied: "I raised it. I called him a predator to his face and in front of everyone every day."

During the programme, Pascoe also revealed she had once reported a male celebrity to a TV channel after a viewer had told her that they had been raped by the man. She said: "Have you ever done a job and then someone's contacted you and said: 'That's my rapist'? I had it on a job recently where I've had to go to the channel, and it's that whole thing because you feel such a sense of responsibility but you also want it to be dealt with well... it's so complicated."

Rape and sexual abuse * If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999

Zara Woodcock