Russell Model has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse following an investigation by Channel 4, The Instances and The Sunday Instances.
The actor, comic and presenter had already denied what he termed “very critical legal allegations” in a video that was launched yesterday night (September 15). Within the video, Model insisted that his relationships have all the time been consensual.
The allegations towards Model relate to a seven yr interval “on the peak of his fame” between 2006 and 2013 in response to The Sunday Instances and are available from 4 ladies, one among whom was 16 on the time. On the time of the allegations, Model was a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4.
One of many ladies alleged that Model raped her towards a wall in his LA house and that she went on to be handled at a rape disaster centre the identical day. One other alleged that Model assaulted her when she was aged 16 throughout an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship.
A 3rd lady claims that Model sexually assaulted her in Los Angeles and later threatened to take authorized motion if she spoke in regards to the allegation to anybody else. A fourth lady described being sexually assaulted by Model and likewise claimed he was each bodily and emotionally abusive in the direction of her.
In his video assertion forward of the claims being printed right now, Model mentioned he “completely” denied the legal allegations referring to his private life, which he mentioned had been outlined in two “extraordinarily disturbing letters” to him.
Model mentioned he acquired the letters from a “mainstream media TV firm” and a newspaper which he mentioned included a “litany of extraordinarily egregious and aggressive assaults”.
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, relatively baroque assaults are some very critical allegations that I completely refute,” he mentioned.
“These allegations pertain to the time after I was 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.”
He continued: “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, virtually too clear, and I’m being clear about it now as effectively.
“To see that transparency metastasised into one thing legal, that I completely deny, makes me query – is there one other agenda at play?”
Model added that he believed he was part of a “coordinated assault”, likening it to the controversy within the media round Joe Rogan selling ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19 (regardless of it not being endorsed as an efficient remedy).
That is taking place pic.twitter.com/N8zIKLbJN2
— Russell Model (@rustyrockets) September 15, 2023
“I don’t thoughts them utilizing my books and my stand-up to speak about my promiscuous consensual conduct previously. What I significantly refute are these very, very critical legal allegations.”
He went on to assert that he knew of witnesses whose proof “instantly contradicts the narrative that these two mainstream media shops are attempting to assemble.”
“I really feel like I’m being attacked, and clearly, they’re working very carefully collectively.”
Model mentioned he would to “look into” the matter, re-emphasising that he noticed it as “very, very critical”.
In response to the joint investigation, a BBC spokesperson additionally commented. Model’s time on the BBC resulted in 2008 after he and presenter Jonathan Ross left a collection of lewd reply cellphone messages for actor Andrew Sachs. In them, Model claimed he had intercourse with the late-actor’s granddaughter. Model and Radio 2’s controller stop, whereas Ross was suspended.
In a press release, the BBC instructed The Sunday Instances: “Russell Model labored for various totally different organisations, of which the BBC was one.
“As is well-known, Russell Model left the BBC after a critical editorial breach in 2008 – as did the then-controller of Radio 2. The circumstances of the breach had been reviewed intimately on the time. We hope that demonstrates that the BBC takes points significantly and is ready to behave.
“Certainly, the BBC has, over successive years, advanced its strategy to the way it manages expertise and the way it offers with complaints or points raised.
“We’ll all the time take heed to individuals if they arrive ahead with any considerations, on any challenge associated to any particular person working on the BBC, previous or current.”
A spokesman for Channel 4 added: “Channel 4 is appalled to be taught of those deeply troubling allegations together with behaviour alleged to have taken place on programmes made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007. We’re decided to know the total nature of what went on. We’ve got carried out in depth doc searches and have discovered no proof to recommend the alleged incidents had been delivered to the eye of Channel 4.
“We’ll proceed to assessment this in mild of any additional data we obtain, together with the accounts of these affected people. We will likely be asking the manufacturing firm who produced the programmes for Channel 4 to research these allegations and report their findings correctly and satisfactorily to us.”
NME has reached out to representatives of Model, the BBC and Channel 4 for remark.
For assist, recommendation or extra data relating to sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Disaster charity web site. Within the US, go to RAINN.
