New College of Florida, apparently unfazed by the recent rape allegations against British comedian Russell Brand, confirmed on Tuesday he was still scheduled to speak at a school event this weekend.
“In a time when public pressure often seeks to silence rather than engage, New College of Florida is reaffirming its role in creating space for open inquiry — not eliminating it,” NCF Director of Public Policy Events Alexandra Nicole Islas said in a statement obtained by TMZ. “After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to move forward with Russell Brand’s scheduled appearance as part of a broader conversation on society, culture and free speech.”
Brand is the featured guest at this Saturday’s Socratic Stage Dialogue Series, put on by the college throughout the year “to advance civil discourse and engagement through facilitating events that foster open discussion and debate on relevant public policy issues,” according to its website.
The appearance will come just over a week after Brand was hit with six charges by U.K. authorities, including one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, plus two counts of sexual assault. The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred with four women between 1999 and 2005.
London’s Metropolitan Police said they investigated the controversial entertainer for 18 months before charging him. The inquiry was sparked by allegations made against Brand by several women who spoke to The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4, which then published a joint report.
One of the women said she was 16 when she and Brand, then in his 30s, began an “emotionally and sexually abusive” three-month relationship. Another woman claimed Brand had exposed himself to her in an office building, then joked about it on his radio show.
Brand has admitted to being promiscuous but said all encounters were consensual, even though at least one of his accusers was a teenager at the time of the alleged assaults.
He’s due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 2.
New College of Florida was once known as a liberal arts school but in recent years has been steered in a more conservative direction by Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to Tampa Bay station WFLA.
Brand, too, has become aligned with the political right, making appearances alongside Tucker Carlson and attending the Republican National Convention.
He’ll be interviewed at the Saturday event by Mark Famiglio, chairman of the Sarasota Film Festival.
“This is a reflection of our commitment to civil discourse and the belief that even challenging conversations deserve room in the public square,” Islas said of keeping Brand on the roster. “While the justice system independently addresses other matters, our responsibility is to ensure a space where ideas — especially those that invite dialogue such as the topic of cancel culture and free speech, can be explored with respect, critical thought and intellectual integrity.”
With News Wire Services
