02 October 2023 , 09:59
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Katherine Ryan revealed she felt 'pushback' for not naming the alleged 'sex predator' in the comedy industry she once called out.
The comedian, 40, previously revealed she once called out a male co-star, reported to be Russell Brand, on a television set for alleged sexual abuse. In November 2022, she made the claims during an interview with BBC documentary maker Louis Theroux but did not name the alleged predator.
Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women in a joint investigation with The Times, The Sunday times and Channel 4's Dispatches. Not all four anonymous women in the programme accused Brand of rape. The incidents are said to have taken place between 2006 and 2013. However, Brand shared a video statement on his YouTube channel before the programme, vehemently denying "criminal and very serious" allegations he said had been put to him by two media outlets, describing it as a "coordinated attack" and insisted all his relationships had been consensual.
Katherine Ryan got a lot of 'pushback' for not revealing the name (Comedy Central)Although Katherine never named the "unmentionable British personality" at the time for legal reasons, the mum-of-three claimed it was an "open secret" amongst people working in her industry. Katherine stressed that she was not a victim of sexual assault herself – saying it was "not my story to tell" – but believed accusations from sources she described as "very credible".
Katherine added that while she didn’t inform the person’s employers of their alleged behaviour, she told the man repeatedly "to his face" during filming for a TV show, but the clip was later cut from the recording. However, it is not clear who the celebrity is and Katherine did not disclose their identity during her interview with Louis.
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She recently appeared as a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and was questioned about the interview with Louis. "I got a lot of pushback, like, ‘Why won’t you say who it is?’" she said. "It’s because everyone knows who it is. What they’re asking me for is the women’s names. And that’s what I won’t give and that’s why I was reluctant to talk about it."
BBC TV Screengrab She said she confronted 'sexual predator' comedian in old interviewHost Lauren Laverne: “Because it was another comic, right?” Katherine replied: “There are a few women’s names that I think investigators are looking for and that’s what they’re asking me for. No one’s asking me for his name. So it’s funny how people go straight to accusing, ‘You are the problem. You won’t give his name.’ We’re not the problem.”
She added: "I had a choice. I could go to work with someone whom I believe to be a perpetrator of sexual assault, or I could turn down the job. Those were my options. And so I wrestled with that. I thought, what am I meant to do in this instance? Am I meant to go and be near someone that I think these things about? ... The choice is, do I go to work with someone who I think is very problematic and do I stand near them and laugh and smile and look like I am allowing this kind of person to still be on television, or do I stay home?"
Katherine found the choice "really difficult" and added: "That’s what I wrestled with the most. Because I believe that this person was or is dangerous, but also what am I going to change if I stay home? ... My compromise was, alright, I’m gonna go, but I’m going to let him know under no uncertain terms what I think of him. I’m not gonna just smile and look like I’m allowing this behaviour."
The comedian was asked how Brand responded to her comments and she said that he "certainly didn’t have an obvious reaction”. The Mirror have contacted Brand's representatives for comment.