The planned “Community” wellness festival, which is the work of comedian and actor Russell Brand, has been postponed due to inclement weather and public outcry.
Russell Brand’s wellness-themed ‘Community’ festival has been cancelled amid declining ticket sales and rising demand for refunds, following the comedian’s recent rape charge. Brand, 49, was formally charged by the Metropolitan Police in May with multiple offences, including a charge of rape, indecent assault, and controlling or coercive behaviour. The alleged incidents involve four women and span from 1999 to 2005, during a period when Brand was active on television, radio, and in film.
On May 3, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the allegations. Brand spoke only to confirm his name, birthdate, address, and bail conditions. He previously refuted all claims, claiming that he had never been a rapist and that all of his previous relationships were consensual. The festival, which was scheduled for July, was scheduled to last three days and feature performances by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, massage, meditation, and live music. Laura Gallacher, the wife of Brand, was also scheduled to address the gathering.
The festival, which Brand had previously referred to as “about personal awakening and social change,” was a result of his recent shift toward wellness and spiritual reflection. According to his website, it was a gathering for “camping, discussion on spirituality, wellness, healthy living, and our environment.”
Brand urged attendees to think about eco-friendly travel in a sustainability message, noting that “audience travel typically accounts for the most carbon footprint of an event.” Please take into account alternative modes of transportation that use less carbon: bus, coach, or public transportation.
The cancellation has not been formally addressed by Brand. However, ticket sales have been halted, and a message on ticketing platform The Ticket Sellers confirms: “Please note: this event has now been cancelled, more detail may be contained in the event text below. If you have purchased tickets for this event, then please contact us on 0121 472 6688 or email refunds@TheTicketSellers.co.uk.”
As part of Brand’s rebranding as a wellness advocate and spiritual commentator, the festival came after a comparable event that took place in Hay-on-Wye in 2023.
The criminal case includes four separate allegations. One woman alleges she was raped by Brand in a hotel room during a Labour Party conference in 1999. According to court testimony, the assault occurred after the woman returned from the bathroom and was pushed onto a bed.
In 2001, a second woman claimed Brand attempted to drag her into a TV studio men’s toilet after he grabbed her forearm and punched her.
A television worker Brand, who he met in Soho in 2004, claims he forced her to have oral sex and groped her breasts.
The fourth allegation involves a woman who worked at a radio station while Brand was presenting Big Brother’s Big Mouth. She alleges that he grabbed her face, kissed her, and groped her.
The allegations first came to light in September 2023, following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches. In response, Brand posted a video denying the claims and said he welcomed the chance to prove his innocence.
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
Source: Mirror
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