# Brand conviction must spark media safeguarding overhaul, Nandy warns

> Culture secretary says Russell Brand's rape conviction exposes ongoing failures to protect women from abuse and exploitation across media and public life.
- Title: Brand conviction must spark media safeguarding overhaul…
- Summary: Culture secretary says Russell Brand's rape conviction exposes ongoing failures to protect women from abuse and exploitation across media and public life.
- Keywords: lisa nandy, russell brand, rape conviction, media industry, women protection, whistleblower safeguards, bbc, ciisa, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/media/2026/nov/08/women-abuse-media-industry-lisa-nandy-russell-brand
- Published: 2026-11-08T19:05:04+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: lisa nandy, russell brand, rape conviction, media industry, women protection, whistleblower safeguards, bbc, ciisa, news, world
## Brand found guilty of rape and assault
Russell Brand was convicted on Thursday of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others. The judge said he faces a significant prison term at sentencing on Monday.
## Nandy: abuse problem persists in media
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said there is still a problem with exploitation and abuse in the media industry and a failure to properly deal with allegations against powerful figures.
## Women fear speaking up will harm careers
Nandy said women who came forward were too often not protected by institutions. Power imbalances in media and politics meant speaking up came at a very heavy cost to careers.

> I think they're not protected.
## Nandy: institutions must change now
The culture secretary told the media industry that time is up to bring in systems to protect vulnerable whistleblowers. She praised the BBC for signing up to the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority.

> There are other institutions that haven't done that, and time is up.
## Government considering mandatory safeguards
Nandy said the government had a responsibility to make Brand's conviction a watershed moment. It is considering what further steps it could take to help protect whistleblowers in such circumstances.
## BBC faces questions over past failures
A BBC editorial standards report in January last year found that staff felt unable to complain about Brand because of the culture at Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music where he presented shows.
## Further allegations under investigation
It emerged after the verdicts that Brand is under investigation for two further rape allegations. The case has prompted difficult questions for the BBC, Channel 4 and production companies that worked with him.
## Key takeaway

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy says Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault must prompt the media industry to strengthen protections for women reporting abuse.