Trigger Warning: This article includes discussion of alleged sexual assault, with details.
An old clip featuring Russell Brand and David Walliams has resurfaced following Brand’s recent prison sentence. The clip shows the two joking about a gay “smokescreen” during the 2006 premiere of The Russell Brand Show on Channel 4.
Russell Brand & David Walliams’ 2006 gay joke resurfaces amid s*x scandals
Walliams and his former comedy partner, Matt Lucas, appeared on the show on November 24, 2006. During the episode, Brand wore a top hat and spoke in a Cockney accent. He leaned back on the sofa and described the look as “a beautiful affectation.” Walliams complimented him, saying, “Yeah, you look beautiful in it, actually.”
Lucas also joined in and said, “Girl, you look gorge.” He then turned to Brand and Walliams and joked, “D’you know you two are like the two gayest straight blokes there are, aren’t you?” Walliams continued, “Isn’t it a wonderful smokescreen?” Brand agreed, replying, “Isn’t it, though? Isn’t it glorious? It works wonderfully well.”
The resurfaced clip comes after the 51-year-old disgraced comedian received a 10-year-and-six-month prison sentence on November 9 for raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others. Brand was convicted after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
As previously reported, the allegations concerned incidents spanning 1999 to 2009. The allegations included grabbing a woman’s breasts at a Soho party in 2004, sexually assaulting another woman at radio station Choice FM in 2004 or 2005, raping a woman at his Hampstead home in 2009, and sexually assaulting a woman during a Channel 4 production in 2009. The women involved have remained anonymous, and the trial was not televised.
Walliams has also faced allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations involve claims that he used his celebrity status to groom teenage fans for sex. Two of the accusers said they were only 15 when they first met the children’s book author.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
