Russell Brand's publishing deal with Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird has been suspended due to allegations that he had repeatedly sexually assaulted women. In a statement provided to The Bookseller, a representative for Bluebird stated that the allegations were very serious, and in consideration of them, Bluebird had chosen to temporarily halt all future publishing with Russell Brand.
Brand, who gained widespread recognition in the early 2000s as a comedian before securing roles in Hollywood movies such as "Rock of Ages" alongside Tom Cruise, has authored several books, particularly after transitioning his career to become a leading figure in the world of new age wellness in recent years.
In 2007, he authored his autobiography, "My Booky Wook," which was published by Hodder & Stoughton. This was followed by a sequel, "BookyWook 2," published by HarperCollins in 2011. In 2015, he ventured into the world of political literature with the release of "Revolution," published by Cornerstone. Additionally, he made his debut in children's literature with "The Pied Piper of Hamelin."
In accordance with his agreement with PanMacmillan, he released "Recovery: Liberation from our Dependencies" in 2018, and a revised edition is scheduled for release in May 2024. However, in light of Bluebird's recent announcement, the fate of the book has become uncertain.
The accusations against Brand initially surfaced through a collaborative investigation conducted by The Times of London, The Sunday Times, and the Channel 4 documentary "Dispatches" over the weekend. During this investigation, four women came forward with allegations of sexual assault against Brand, including one instance of rape. Brand has vehemently refuted the claims.
The BBC and Banijay, the organizations that employed the comedian when the alleged incidents occurred, have initiated an inquiry into the accusations.
