British actor, comedian, and online media guru Russell Brand, 49, closed his charity, the Stay Free Foundation, following the resurfacing of several sexual assault allegations.
The U.K.âs Charity Commission was informed in September 2024 that Brandâs foundation âno longer operates.â It was removed from the countryâs official register of charities in January.
Brand founded Stay Free after he received treatment for heroin addiction in 2003. The foundation focused on mental health and addiction recovery.
In 2013, Brand made a documentary with the BBC about his addiction, recovery, and views on how to help addicts.
The closure comes after a 2023 joint investigation by The Sunday Times and (British) Channel 4âs Dispatches into four sexual assault allegations against Brand from 2006 to 2013.
Brand denies the allegations, and says he is the target of a smear campaign. He recently moved to the U.S. from the U.K.
In 2017, the BBCâs charity Comic Relief booked Brand to raise money for charity.
The booking followed the 2016 refiling of a 2007 complaint by a BBC employee who accused Brand of urinating in a cup in the presence of colleagues at Radio 2.
The various complaints show that Brandâs alleged behavior was not an isolated incident and that the BBC did not respond appropriately to the complaints.
The BBC has apologized and explained that the oversight was due to staff viewing Brand as too powerful.
