Russell Brand sued for alleged sexual assault on the set of Arthur

In September, actor and comedian Russell Brand was accused of sexual assault by multiple women, and while Brand denied the allegations immediately (saying that his previous sexual relationships were “always consensual”), other claims came out over the course of the month—which Brand attributed to a conspiracy led by major news organizations to manipulate stories. Now, the BBC says that a background actor on Brand’s 2011 comedy Arthur has sued Brand in New York for alleged sexual assault.

The suit also names Warner Bros. and other companies involved with the production of the film, with the unnamed accuser saying that, on the day of the alleged assault, Brand had “appeared intoxicated, smelled of alcohol, and was carrying a bottle of vodka on set.” She says that he exposed himself in front of her and in front of the rest of the cast and crew, and later that day he allegedly followed her into a bathroom and assaulted her while “a member of the production crew guarded the door from outside.”

She added that she was hired from three days of work on Arthur, but after this alleged assault happened on the first day, she was not hired back. She says she’s concerned about being identified because she still works as an actor and doesn’t want to be “blacklisted,” in addition to concerns that she might face harassment from Brand’s fans if named. Since the alleged assault, she says she has suffered “extreme embarrassment, shame, and fear, as well as finding it difficult to trust others.”

The BBC story notes that the suit was filed as part of New York’s Adult Survivor’s Act, which allows victims of sexual assault to file civil suits that fall outside of the statute of limitations through mid-November of this year.