Noel Fielding has said he is “appalled” by jokes he made alongside Russell Brand when the pair appeared together on TV and at live shows.
The Great British Bake Off presenter said in a statement to the Sun he was “horrified and deeply disturbed” to learn of Brand’s crimes, after the disgraced comedian was jailed for rape and sexual assault.
Footage of Fielding and Brand joking about rape with TV presenter Jonathan Ross on an episode of Channel 4’s Big Fat Quiz of the Year in 2007 has resurfaced in the aftermath of Brand’s conviction.
Fielding described “some of the jokes” he made as “horrible and inappropriate”, and said he had not been in contact with Brand “for many years”.
“I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge. My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice,” Fielding said.
“I appeared on TV, radio and live charity shows with him, and whilst we played it up for the cameras and in the media, I considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one. I have had no contact with him for many years.
“Looking back at some of the jokes I made alongside him I was appalled. They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”
Ross has also released a statement distancing himself from the remarks, saying that his “thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.”
Among the resurfaced footage is a clip of Brand and Fielding laughing on an episode of The Russell Brand Show, which aired on BBC Radio 2 in 2007. In it, Brand joked about kissing and holding an underage grasshopper.
“How do you even know if it’s a child or an adult? You don’t even care, do you,” Fielding responded.
Brand can be heard replying: “It’s a mistake I’ve made. I’ve had a lot of problems in the past, because I thought a grasshopper was above age. Before I know it, I’m in it, right, I’m kissing it, I’m holding it. Then it turns around and looks at me with onyx eyes and says: ‘I’m 12.'”
Brand and Fielding also performed charity gigs together as The Goth Detectives.
