Russell Model is on the forefront of public dialog proper now, after a joint investigation by The Sunday Instances and Channel 4’s Dispatches reported on allegations of rape, sexual assault and abuse towards him.
The particular report got here out over the weekend, detailing accusations made by 4 totally different ladies concerning the actor and comic’s conduct.
Model has denied the entire allegations levelled towards him, insisting all of his relationships have been consensual.
Right here’s how the story has advanced to this point…
What are the allegations which have been made about Russell Model?
Allegations had been first made in a Channel 4 Dispatches particular on Saturday evening, and later printed by The Sunday Instances, that Model had been accused by 4 ladies who knew him over a seven-year interval of rape, sexual assault and abuse.
The joint report stated that one lady alleged she had been raped, whereas three others accused him of sexual assault. One of many ladies additionally stated he had been bodily and emotionally abusive.
Per the Related Press, the ladies in query “stated that they solely felt prepared to inform their tales after being approached by reporters”, with some claiming that Model’s “prominence as an internet wellness influencer” was a contributing issue of their choice to talk out.
Model has strongly denied the entire allegations made about him.
Steve Meddle/Shutterstock
What has Russell Model stated in response to the allegations?
Earlier than the allegations had been printed, Model shared a video on social media saying he’d acquired “extraordinarily disturbing” letters and emails “itemizing a litany of extraordinarily egregious and aggressive assaults”.
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, reasonably baroque assaults, are some very severe allegations, that I completely refute,” he informed his followers.
“These allegations pertain to the time that I used to be working within the mainstream, after I was within the newspapers on a regular basis, after I was within the films, and as I’ve written about extensively in my books, I used to be very, very promiscuous. Now, throughout that point of promiscuity, the relationships I had had been completely all the time consensual.”
“I used to be all the time clear about that then, nearly too clear,” he claimed. “And I’m being clear about it now as properly. And to see that transparency metastasised into one thing felony that I completely deny makes me query: is there one other agenda at play?”
Watch Model’s video response in full beneath:
What has the response been in latest days?
Over the weekend, a spokesperson for Scotland Yard stated they had been “conscious of media reporting of a sequence of allegations of sexual assault” and urged anybody who “believes they’ve been the sufferer of a sexual assault, irrespective of how way back it occurred” to “contact police”.
“We spoke with the Sunday Instances on Saturday, 16 September. We shall be making additional approaches to the Sunday Instances and Channel 4 to make sure that any victims of crime who they’ve spoken with are conscious of how they might report any felony allegations to police,” they stated.
MPs Caroline Nokes (the chair of the Commons ladies and equalities committee) and Laura Trott have known as for police to launch an inquiry into the allegations.
A spokesperson for prime minister Rishi Sunak stated: “These are very severe and regarding allegations. The Met Police has requested anybody who believes they’ve been a sufferer of a sexual assault to return ahead to talk to officers.
“Because the Overseas Secretary stated over the weekend, folks ought to really feel in a position to increase considerations the place they’ve them and know they are going to be handled significantly and handled with sensitivity. The Prime Minister has been clear there ought to by no means be any house for harassment, no matter the place it’s discovered.”
The BBC – considered one of Model’s former employers – has stated it’s “urgently trying into the problems raised” in The Instances’ report, whereas Channel 4 has began its personal inner investigation, and already eliminated content material that includes Model from its streaming platform.
Ricky Vigil M through Getty Photos
It was additionally first reported on Saturday that Model has been dropped by his agent, Tavistock Wooden.
Certainly one of Model’s accusers stated she beforehand contacted the company in 2020 about her alleged experiences with the performer, with a spokesperson telling Deadline: “Russell Model categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, however we now consider we had been horribly misled by him. TW has terminated all skilled ties to Model.”
Model’s contribution has additionally been dropped from a deliberate poetry assortment put collectively by former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn and Len McCluskey.
The director of rehab charity BAC O’Connor – of which Model was a long-time supporter – has additionally confirmed the organisation has severed all ties with him.
What’s Russell Model well-known for?
Model rose to prominence within the mid-2000s, after his profession in stand-up comedy led to presenting roles first on MTV and afterward the fact TV companion present Huge Brother’s Bit On The Facet.
As his profile grew, he went on to entrance exhibits like Russell Model’s Ponderland, and host the Brits and MTV Video Music Awards.
JMEnternational through Getty Photos
He additionally hosted his personal Radio 2 present between 2006 and 2008, which got here to an abrupt finish after he and visitor Jonathan Ross turned embroiled in a nationwide scandal referred to within the media as “Sachs-gate”. The scandal noticed pair prank name scheduled visitor Andrew Sachs, leaving an obscene message on his answering machine about Model’s previous sexual relationship with the Fawly Towers actor’s granddaughter.
The controversy led to 1000’s of complaints, and each stars had been suspended by the BBC, with Model then making the choice to resign from his present.
After internet hosting the VMAs, Model made the transfer to appearing, showing in movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall (and its spin-off Get Him To The Greek), Despicable Me, Arthur and Disney’s Bedtime Tales. On the peak of his worldwide fame, Model was married to pop singer Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.
Inside his stand-up comedy, Model turned famend for talking candidly about his private points, most notably his previous points with habit to heroin, alcohol and intercourse, in addition to his political and non secular beliefs.
Jason LaVeris through Getty Photos
What has he been doing in more moderen years?
Within the final decade, Model has grow to be identified for his political and social commentary, first in his YouTube sequence The Trews, and later in his e-book Revolution, his documentary The Emperor’s New Garments and his podcast Below The Pores and skin.
Extra just lately, Model has been accused of amplifying “on-line misinformation”, significantly on the subject of the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccinations and the struggle in Ukraine.
Certainly one of Model’s movies was eliminated by YouTube in 2022, with the platform citing their “coverage on medical misinformation”, after which he made the choice to launch a brand new channel on the “anti-cancel tradition” service Rumble.
Model married the blogger and former restaurateur Laura Gallacher in 2017, with whom he shares two daughters.
Assist and help:
- Rape Disaster providers for girls and ladies who’ve been raped or have skilled sexual violence – 0808 802 9999
- Survivors UK provides help for males and boys – 0203 598 3898
