YouTube suspends Russell Brand from making money off his channel — The suspension comes following the publication of rape and sexual assault allegations against the British star::YouTube has blocked Russell Brand from making money off its platform and the BBC pulled some of his shows from its online streaming service in the wake of rape and sexual assault allegations against the comedian-turned-influencer.

  • garretble@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Google is not the law, and they can do whatever they want with their company.

    They don’t have to continue to pay him if they don’t want to — innocent, guilty, whichever. Just like they don’t have to continue to host nazi garbage or MAGA garbage if they don’t want to.

    • pokemaster787@ani.social
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      1 year ago

      Google is not the law, and they can do whatever they want with their company.

      Sure, but imagine your employer just fired you because of accusations before it ever reached trial. Illegal? No. Ruining someone’s livelihood even though they’re innocent legally speaking? Yes.

      Not defending this person, I genuinely do not even know who they are. But “private company can do whatever they want, your rights are only something the government has to care about” is a pretty concerning position to take. Not to mention they didn’t seem to take down or stop running ads on the channel, just stopped giving him the money. They’re profiting off of his content without paying him and using an unverified (but very possibly accurate) accusation as an excuse. That should be illegal.

      • GeneralVincent@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I would hope my job would fire me if there were a dozen complaints about me ranging from mental abuse to rape over the span of over a decade.

        I agree with you about Google just pocketing any money made off him though, that’s messed up

        • phillaholic@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          The influx of libertarian dead minded commenters here is exhausting. Too concerned with zero tolerance rules to even consider the details or understand the difference. I thought Reddit was bad.

    • GCostanzaStepOnMe@feddit.de
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      1 year ago

      This only works because Youtube has the loosest form of contracts with its creators. Your regular employers can’t fire you because of allegations or hearsay (modulo local labor laws).

    • mx_smith@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      This puts Russel Brand in a position to sue for libel and slander as the court of public opinion has already declared him guilty. What happens if he is found innocent at his court case. What if they did this to Johnny Depp?

      • phillaholic@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Nothing. These people aren’t entitled to companies wanting to work with them. This isn’t the same thing as being a W-2 worker somewhere.

      • Pagliacci@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        “Not guilty” is distinct from “innocent”, and such a verdict, if a trial ever comes of this, would not impact libel or slander. Being unable to prove your accusations in court to the standard required is not a determination that the accusations were false, only that doubt remained.