Russell Brand's convictions for rape and sexual assault have renewed scrutiny of the BBC and other media organisations over whether they ignored or tolerated his behaviour during his rise to fame as a comedian and broadcaster.

Brand, 51, was convicted Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving multiple women. He was acquitted of two rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He is scheduled to be sentenced Monday.

For three consecutive years while working at BBC radio stations, Brand received The Sun's "Shagger of the Year" title, reflecting his provocative public image. However, critics say his behaviour was overlooked by employers and the wider public.

The BBC apologised last year for a culture of silence that prevented staff from reporting his conduct between 2006 and 2008, saying some considered him too influential. It renewed the apology following his conviction.

The case gained momentum after The Times and Channel 4 jointly published allegations from women in 2023. Their investigation encouraged others to come forward, providing evidence that led to his conviction.

Brand's former BBC colleagues had previously raised concerns about his conduct. In 2008, he resigned from Radio 2 after an on-air prank involving actor Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter. The BBC was subsequently fined 150,000 pounds by the broadcasting regulator.

Channel 4 also apologised in 2024 for failing to investigate a serious complaint against Brand made by an employee in 2009. He was convicted of sexually assaulting the former employee while working on a channel project.

Media and marketing experts said Brand's provocative persona, which was widely promoted by the media, may have helped normalise his behaviour and discouraged people from recognising warning signs.