YouTube Blocks Russell Brand From Making Money on Its Platform
The spokeswoman did not respond to an inquiry about how long the suspension would last.
Mr. Brand on Friday posted a clip to his channel denying what he called “serious criminal allegations.” That statement was released the day before The Times of London and Sunday Times in London newspapers, and Dispatches, a TV program, published their joint investigation in which four women accused Mr. Brand of sexual assault, including one accusation of rape.
Mr. Brand once was a TV and radio star in Britain and in 2007 published a best-selling memoir. He had a brief Hollywood career that included a role in the 2008 rom-com “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” but he has lately pivoted to making online videos, running wellness events and touring comedy shows.
While Mr. Brand’s earlier stand-up routines had a broadly left-wing focus, skewering the British establishment and focusing on subjects like social inequality, he has recently reinvented himself to focus on conservative talking points, often seeming to target an American audience. On YouTube, recent videos have included Mr. Brand discussing his skepticism toward Covid-19 vaccines and dissecting his own appearances on Fox News.
Mr. Brand also hosts a show on Rumble, a social media network associated with conservative voices, but he did not appear for a scheduled broadcast on Monday.