Netflix hides Russell Brand special but refuses to remove it

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 12 Nov, 10:10 · Archive

Netflix has hidden Russell Brand's 2018 stand-up special Re:Birth from search results but will not remove it following his rape conviction.

Netflix has hidden Russell Brand's stand-up special Re:Birth from search results and stopped actively promoting it following his conviction for rape and sexual assault. The 2018 special, recorded at the Hackney Empire in east London and running approximately 63 minutes, remains available on the streaming platform but can no longer be found through normal searches for Brand's name. If Brand's surname is misspelled as 'Band' the special will still appear, and it remains accessible through Google searches.

Brand was sentenced to ten years and six months at Southwark Crown Court following his conviction of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He also faces life on the sex offenders' register. He had denied all charges and was acquitted of several others.

Netflix told outlets that the company will not remove the special entirely from its library. A Netflix source said: 'We prioritise choice and control for our members: the freedom to watch what, how and when you want, with recommendations and ratings to inform those choices.' The special will simply not be promoted to subscribers going forward.

Re:Birth, first released in December 2018, features Brand discussing becoming a parent, his previous sexual history and his political activism. The show was met with mixed reviews from critics, who praised his energy but criticised its structure. The special includes crude jokes about his wife Laura Gallacher and their daughter, and remarks about his promiscuous lifestyle.

The decision has drawn criticism. Jill Greenfield, chairman of the Fawcett Society, a charity promoting gender equality and women's rights, said she found Netflix's approach 'a bit surprising'. She questioned who would want to watch the special and said the content and case itself are 'upsetting for tons of people, particularly the victims'.

How it is being reported

• Fury as Netflix refuses to pull Russell Brand stand-up show featuring ‘cruel’ joke about wife and daughterCritics have slammed the streamer’s decision to keep up the 2018 special as ‘a bit surprising’Evening Standard · 12 Nov, 09:59
• Netflix under fire for refusing to pull Russell Brand’s comedy special featuring heinous joke about his wife giving birthThe streaming giant confirmed the decision to hide the disgraced star's comedy special rather than remove it from the platform entirely.New York Post · 11 Nov, 15:44
• Netflix refuses to pull Russell Brand comedy show that features a disgusting joke about his wife and daughterThe streaming service confirmed that it had no intention of removing the 51-year-old comedian and actor from its platform, despite his convictions for rape and sexual assault.Daily Mail · 11 Nov, 15:09
• Netflix ‘hides convicted rapist Russell Brand’s stand-up comedy film – but won’t remove it’Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault last week.Metro · 10 Nov, 11:13

In this story: Netflix · Russell Brand · Southwark Crown Court · Fawcett Society · Jill Greenfield · Hackney Empire · Laura Gallacher

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