Abuse in the media industry is probably still happening as organisations are not doing enough to protect women, the culture secretary has warned in the wake of Russell Brand’s conviction.
Lisa Nandy told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “Time is up, it really is time for the media industry to take this seriously.”
She added that since entering government, “many people” from within the industry had reached out to her “to allege that things have happened to them”.
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday after being convicted last week of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, following allegations from multiple women spanning the decade between 1999 and 2009.
Nandy was asked whether she believed there was still exploitation and abuse within the media industry, following the Brand trial and cancellation of Channel 4 reality show Married at First Sight after the BBC revealed rape allegations.
She said: “I do not see that much has changed in terms of the way that institutions in the media industry and across public life, including politics, deal with women who very bravely come forward to allege abuse.”
Nandy added that there was often no protection and a “very heavy cost” for women who speak up in industries such as media and politics, pointing to power imbalances and short-term contracts some staff members are given.
“Hand on heart, I can’t say to you as the culture secretary that this is not happening today. In fact, if I had to wager, I would say it is,” she said.
Nandy said many had come forward from within the industry, including from the BBC.
But she added that the BBC had been an “exemplar” in signing up to the industry body to protect whistleblowers – the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority – and urged other organisations to follow suit.
A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster “has made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards”.
“Last year, following an independent culture review, we set out the behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC and we were clear action would be taken if these were not met,” the spokesperson added.
