Russell Brand, a well-known British comedian and actor, was set to speak at the New College of Florida as part of a special event series focused on free speech and censorship. However, the school decided to cancel the talk over the weekend due to growing controversy surrounding Brand, who is currently facing several serious allegations, including charges of sexual assault.
Brand was expected to participate in a panel called Thinking without Permission: A Conversation with Russell Brand on Free Speech, Censorship, and Cultural Power, which was part of the school’s Socratic Stage series—a platform where influential figures discuss pressing social and political issues. The college had confirmed Brand’s appearance earlier in the week, but quickly reversed course after public attention on the allegations intensified.
While the school publicly cited “event logistics” as the reason for the cancellation—referring to issues like venue availability and ticketing—many believe the real cause was the backlash over Brand’s participation, especially considering the sensitive nature of the accusations against him.
Brand is currently facing criminal charges in the UK, with London’s Metropolitan Police accusing him of multiple assaults that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005. He has strongly denied all allegations, saying in a video posted to social media that he has “never committed non-consensual acts” and suggesting that the legal system is being misused to silence him.
The college expressed hope that Brand might still visit the campus at a later time, under conditions that allow for open and respectful discussion. For now, though, the event page on their website simply lists the talk as “TBD” (to be determined).
To make matters worse for the comedian, Brand is also dealing with a separate civil lawsuit in New York. This case involves alleged misconduct during the filming of the 2011 movie Arthur. In response, Warner Bros. has said it will release behind-the-scenes footage from the film, which could shed more light on Brand’s behavior at the time.
Brand’s criminal trial in the UK is scheduled to begin on May 2.
