A massage therapist who accused Russell Brand of assault has been under a gagging order for over a decade, preventing her from discussing her allegations with authorities or even her own family. The injunction against Szilvia Berki, revealed recently, has been criticized as a significant infringement on freedom of expression and has prompted demands for a House of Commons inquiry.
Szilvia Berki, 43, initially reported Brand to Thames Valley Police in 2014. The report followed an incident at the Oxfordshire mansion of Brand's then-girlfriend, Jemima Goldsmith, where Ms. Berki had been hired to give Brand a massage on his birthday. Ms. Berki claims the massage did not occur and that she was treated poorly, stating she was pushed by Brand and felt terrified after Ms. Goldsmith's dog jumped at her.
Brand and Goldsmith denied any wrongdoing, asserting that a standard, non-sexual massage was requested. The police investigation was subsequently dropped.
In October 2015, Brand and Goldsmith obtained an anti-harassment order that effectively silenced Ms. Berki indefinitely. The order prohibits her from communicating about Brand and Goldsmith, disclosing any information about her visit to Goldsmith's home, or making allegations that Brand or Goldsmith committed criminal offenses against her or behaved inappropriately. Breaching the order could result in legal repercussions, and Ms. Berki was also ordered to pay £50,000 in legal costs.
Ms. Berki has made three unsuccessful attempts to appeal the order. It is understood that Ms. Goldsmith has indicated a willingness to modify the injunction to allow Ms. Berki to contact the police again, but this would require Brand's approval, and the two are not understood to have spoken since 2014.
Media lawyer Mark Stephens described the order as a "gross breach of freedom of expression." Dan Neidle, who uncovered the injunction, suggested that Members of Parliament could potentially nullify the restrictions by inviting Ms. Berki to testify before a parliamentary select committee, as witnesses before such committees are granted absolute parliamentary immunity.