LONDON: Britain’s culture minister, Lisa Nandy, said on Sunday there was still a problem with sexual abuse in the media industry after Russell Brand, once a high-profile comedian and actor, was convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three more.

Brand’s conviction on Thursday renewed scrutiny of how Britain’s entertainment industry has treated well-known performers accused of abusing their power, with some women saying they feared speaking out could harm their careers.

Asked whether there was still a problem with exploitation and sexual abuse in the media and entertainment industries, Nandy told the BBC: “Yes, I do, and I think hand on heart I can’t say to you as the culture secretary that this is not happening today and in fact, if I had to wager, I would say it is.”

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2026