The BBC has issued an apology to its staff regarding the way it dealt with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against actor and former radio host Russell Brand during his tenure at the organization.

On Thursday, the British broadcasting service released findings from a review that highlighted how the internal power structures enabled Brand’s “unacceptable” conduct.

“This investigation was carried out with the utmost diligence,” the BBC remarked in a statement accompanying the report. “We appreciate the courage of those who came forward, as addressing these sensitive issues has not been an easy task.”

Brand, who hosted shows on BBC’s 6 Music and Radio 2 from 2006 to 2008, faced serious scrutiny in 2023 after multiple women accused him of emotional and sexual abuse.

He has firmly denied any allegations of misconduct.

Following these accusations, the BBC initiated its own inquiry into various complaints—both formal and informal—against Brand from his time at the network.

“The fact that certain individuals felt unable to voice their concerns over Russell Brand’s behavior during that time is deeply troubling, and the BBC has expressed its apologies to them as part of this review,” the statement added.

Peter Johnston, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews, shared that he had interviewed 39 people for the report and had invited Brand to participate, which he declined.

YSL News has sought comments from Brand’s representatives regarding the findings of the review.

The investigation addressed eight complaints, some of which emerged after the review was initiated. Among the accusations was an incident where Brand allegedly exposed himself to a woman in a bathroom just before a radio show segment in which he made jokes about the incident. The woman was not associated with the BBC but was working in the same building as its Los Angeles office.

While the review found that BBC management was unaware of this incident, it recognized that others in the L.A. office were aware and often “made jokes” about it, which Johnston deemed “unacceptable for such a serious situation.”

Additionally, one woman’s claim involved a three-month relationship with Brand while he was at Radio 6, stating that he arranged for a car to pick her up from school or her grandmother’s home to take her to his residence. At the time, she was only 16, while Brand would have been in his thirties.

The BBC’s investigation determined that, while it was unlikely the cars used were official management vehicles, they appeared to have been reserved for him by production staff from the network.

Other allegations reviewed included claims of Brand urinating in cups or bottles during studio sessions, throwing objects, having sexual encounters on the premises—including with contest winners—and exposing himself in front of staff and guests.

The investigation was somewhat limited due to the significant time gap since many of the incidents occurred. Nevertheless, it revealed that although only one formal complaint was made and mishandled, a culture of fear existed within the organization concerning Brand, discouraging further reports.

“It is evident that many staff and freelancers at the BBC, particularly those in junior roles, found Russell Brand to be a difficult and demanding figure, with behavior that they considered extreme. However, they felt it futile to lodge complaints, believing that their concerns would not be heeded and, rightly or wrongly, that Brand had the backing of senior management as a prominent presenter,” Johnston stated.

“I observed a notable power imbalance and hierarchy surrounding these shows, which made the presenter seem too powerful,” he added. “There should have been more robust systems in place to promptly identify and address Russell Brand’s unacceptable behavior so that everyone involved felt secure in voicing their concerns.”

Brand is also currently under investigation by police in the U.K. over several sexual offenses allegedly committed between 2006 and 2013, during his peak fame.

Once a highly debated public figure, the serious allegations of rape and assault have led to his significant loss of public favor. In recent years, he has turned to religious pursuits, announcing plans for baptism last year, and engaging with conspiracy theories on social media, covering controversial topics from 9/11 to the COVID vaccine.