Culture Secretary: Media abuse 'probably still happening' after Brand verdict

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has warned that abuse within the media industry is probably still occurring, stating that organisations are failing to adequately protect women. Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg ^[1], Nandy admitted that she could not confidently assert that such misconduct had ceased, noting that institutions often do not handle allegations bravely made by women effectively.

The comments come in the immediate wake of Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault. The former comedian was found guilty following a four-week trial that centred on allegations from multiple women spanning the decade between 1999 and 2009 ^[1]. Brand's legal team had argued against the charges, but the jury ultimately convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

Nandy highlighted that since entering government, "many people" from within the industry have reached out to her to allege that similar events have happened to them. Her assessment that abuse is 'probably still happening' is based on anecdotal evidence from these industry contacts, according to ^[1]. She pointed to significant power imbalances and the prevalence of short-term contracts as structural issues that silence staff. "Time is up, it really is time for the media industry to take this seriously," she said, emphasising the heavy personal cost women face when reporting misconduct.

While acknowledging that the BBC has been an "exemplar" by signing up to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority to protect whistleblowers, Nandy urged other organisations to follow suit. The BBC, where Brand worked between 2006 and 2008, has restated its apology to staff who felt unable to speak up due to Brand's perceived influence ^[1]. A BBC spokesperson stated there could be "no place for the abuse of power" and called for industry-wide cooperation to ensure concerns are taken seriously.

Channel 4, which aired Brand's presenting work during the era of the alleged offences, said it recognised the "profound impact of these crimes" ^[1]. The corporation's response follows a period of intense scrutiny over how media giants navigate allegations against high-profile figures. Nandy's intervention suggests that for many in the industry, the verdict is not an end to the issue, but rather a stark reminder that systemic change remains elusive.