YouTube turns off the Brand cashflow as new sex claims emerge

Fresh blow for comedian as police renew appeal to women

- Martin Bentham

RUSSELL BRAND was today blocked from earning more money from his YouTube channel as his ability to make millions from social media started to crumble in response to the sex attack allegations against him.

YouTube said it had taken action “to protect” its customers because the comedian had “violated our … policy” through his “off-platform behaviour”.

The move means that Brand, 48, who has been engulfed in controversy since allegations of rape and other sex crimes made by four women were revealed at the weekend, will lose a major source of income. He has been estimated to make between £2,000 and £4,000 per video on his YouTube channel where he has more than six million followers and broadcasts daily. The new blow to Brand came as the Metropolitan Police continued to appeal for women to come forward after a woman contacted the force on Sunday to report an alleged sex attack in 2003 in Soho. The alleged offence is separate to the claims made by the four women in an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme of predatory offending, including rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse, between 2006 and 2013.

The Sunday Times has said that it has compiled a list of at least 10 more potential victims whose cases have yet to be brought to public attention.