YouTube has announced it has suspended podcast host Russell brandās monetization status amid allegations he raped and sexually assaulted women.
According to NBC News, the big tech video streaming platform made the announcement Tuesday, claiming Brand was in violation of the ācreator responsibility policy.ā
They noted, āIf a creatorās off-platform behavior harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community.ā
Brand began to question the authenticity of mainstream media narratives during the 2020 pandemic and built an audience of over 6.6 million viewers on YouTube alone.
He also has 1.6 million viewers on the popular alternative video streaming platform, Rumble.
On Friday, Brand released a video to X, formerly Twitter, addressing the situation. He stated, āIāve received two extremely disturbing letters, or a letter and an email, one from a mainstream media TV company; one from a newspaper listing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.ā
He noted these are āvery serious allegations that I absolutely refute.ā
Brand then explained these allegations come from consensual relationships during a promiscuous period in his life.
He also pointed out that ācoordinated media attacksā have been used to intimidate other personalities like Joe Rogan.
āIām aware that you guys have been saying in the comments for a while, āWatch out Russell, theyāre coming for you, youāre getting too close to the truth,āā he said.
Brand also addressed media claims he is a āconspiracy theorist.ā He then noted the news media has been attempting to contact his friends and family for information for some time and they seem to have an ulterior motive than just reporting facts.
This caused users on X to voice their concerns regarding the situation.
Podcast hosts, the Hodgetwins, stated, āWhat they are doing to Russell brand is what they will eventually do to all of us.ā
Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk wrote, āNot only has Russell brand been convicted of no crime, he hasnāt even been charged with a crime.ā
āYet YouTube just unilaterally demonetized his channel with more than 6 million subscribers, and multiple press outlets are colluding in a takedown operation,ā he added.
Kirk then concluded, āRussell brand isnāt being āheld accountable,ā heās being taken out for speaking out against the corrupt media and the bio-medical-pharmaceutical state.ā
This is in reference to just before the allegations were made, Brand released a video calling out Big Pharma.
Timcast member, The Red Headed Libertarian, stated, āAll Russell brandās accusers went through the media, not the courts.ā
āThey made a documentary, they didnāt file a police report. Convince me they want Justice, and not money,ā she added.
