UPDATE Sept. 22, 2023: In statements to MRC Free Speech America, a YouTube spokesperson admitted that it demonetized Brand's channel. “We have suspended monetisation on Russell Brand’s channel for violating our Creator Responsibility policy," the spokesperson claimed. "If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees or ecosystem, we take action to protect the community."
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YouTube appointed itself judge, jury and silencer in the kangaroo court of public opinion preemptively punishing individuals subjected to leftist cancel culture or accusations — but only in some cases.
YouTube announced on Tuesday that comedian and actor Russell Brand will no longer be able to monetize his videos amidst sexual assault allegations brought against him. According to the New York Post’s Page Six, YouTube acknowledged that the punishment — despite no arrest or criminal convictions — followed “serious allegations against the creator.” The decision drew the ire of prominent voices who blasted YouTube’s unilateral decision and pointed out the disproportionate punishment as YouTube has turned a blind eye to accusations raised against Democrats and media members on the left.
In recent years, Brand has become a voice against Big Tech’s attack on free speech and has been subject to YouTube’s censorship in the past. It isn’t immediately clear whether YouTube’s targeting of Brand, which applies to “all channels that may be owned or operated by the actor,” has been applied to leftist individuals who have also faced damning allegations of sexual misconduct.
Notably, former CBS News journalist Charlie Rose — who was fired following allegations of sexual harassment — continues to post his interviews on his Charlie Rose YouTube channel.
Similarly, former Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) enjoys a YouTube channel reaching over 200,000 subscribers. Like Rose, Franken resigned from the Senate amid allegations of sexual assault by radio personality Leeann Tweeden.
“This is insane,” Matt Walsh, a host at The Daily Wire, wrote in a fiery X (formerly Twitter) post on Tuesday. “YouTube is demonetizing all of Brand’s accounts based on unproven allegations made in the media.” Walsh later brought attention to the fact that Brand has yet to be criminally prosecuted for the allegations.
In a separate post, Walsh accused YouTube of unleashing a blueprint to punish those who disagree with their agenda. “Understand what YouTube has just done,” he added “Simply accuse them of sexual assault. Doesn’t matter if it’s proven or not. They’ve opened the floodgates. Intentionally so.”
The Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing echoed Walsh’s remarks calling YouTube’s decision a terrible precedent. “Social platforms should not act as extra-legal arbiters of guilt and innocence,” he said. “These companies think they’re governments. Or gods.”
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, chimed in by blasting YouTube’s unilateral punishment of Brand. He stated, “Russell Brand isn't being ‘held accountable,’ he's being taken out for speaking out against the corrupt media and the bio-medical-pharmaceutical state.”
YouTube did not respond to MRC Free Speech America’s request for comment by the time of publishing.
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