A television producer has stepped back from his role as head of comedy at a London production company after it emerged he was present and allegedly laughed during an incident involving Russell Brand in 2009 that later formed part of Brand’s criminal conviction.
Jack Bayles had been working as head of comedy at Various Artists Limited, the London-based production company behind Michaela Coel’s sexual assault drama “I May Destroy You.” At the time of the 2009 incident, Bayles was working for Channel 4.
The episode, which took place 17 years ago, involved Brand pressing his head into the groin area of a woman after pressuring her into giving him a massage. The conduct was among the offences for which Brand was later convicted. According to accounts of the incident, Bayles told the woman to “just do it” at the time and is alleged to have laughed during the episode.
In a statement given to The Times, Bayles said: “I am appalled and sickened by Brand’s actions and have co-operated fully and voluntarily with the investigation and endeavoured to assist as best I can. However, I do not remember the incident that took place 17 years ago in 2009. But I acknowledge that I clearly missed something at the time and did not see nor recognise that it caused distress. For that I am sincerely sorry.”
Bayles has since left his position at Various Artists Limited. The company has not issued a separate public statement on the circumstances of his departure.
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