An unidentified actress, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, has brought forth a lawsuit against comedian-actor Russell Brand and Warner Bros, shedding light on her allegations of assault during the filming of 'Arthur' in 2010. This revelation comes following an in-depth interview with the actress, conducted by the Sunday Times newspaper in the UK.
In the interview, she recounts the distressing incident that unfolded in July 2010 during the production of the comedic remake 'Arthur,' as reported by Deadline. Russell Brand, who played the titular role, was then engaged to singer Katy Perry, who would later join him on the red carpet for the film's premiere.
According to her claims, Brand exposed himself in the presence of cast and crew, only to escalate the situation later that day. The actress reveals that Brand entered the bathroom she was in and assaulted her while a member of the production crew guarded the door from the outside.
She expressed her profound discomfort, stating, "I felt used and abused. Disgusting is the only word. I felt like I was being used, that I was just an object for his momentary titillation," and clarified that her decision to speak out is motivated by the desire to reclaim her power.
Jane Doe's reluctance to speak up earlier stems from her fear of potential industry blacklisting, which could have disastrous consequences for her career, given the power dynamics at play on film sets, where stars often hold more influence than those with smaller roles.
She elaborated on this by saying, "Everyone usually turns a blind eye to bad behavior on a set. If I had come forward and said something to, say, even a production assistant on the set, what are they going to do? Are they going to fire Russell Brand, or are they going to fire me?"
The lawsuit names Russell Brand, Warner Bros, and the production companies MBST Entertainment, BenderSpink, and Langley Park Pictures as defendants, but as of now, none of them have publicly responded to the allegations.
This lawsuit underscores the significance of addressing misconduct in the entertainment industry and the courage required to confront such issues, particularly when dealing with power imbalances that can deter individuals from speaking out.
(With agency inputs)
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