Warner Bros. Must Face Lawsuit Over Russell Brand's Alleged 'Willy Kiss'

Warner Bros. has lost its bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Russell Brand sexually assaulted an extra on the set of the 2010 film "Arthur." A Manhattan judge ruled that the studio could have been aware of Brand's alleged propensities and therefore may be held liable.

The lawsuit, filed by an anonymous woman in 2023, claims Brand, who is currently facing a rape trial in the UK, assaulted her in a bathroom on set. According to court papers, Brand allegedly exposed himself to her and repeatedly demanded she "kiss his willy," before forcing her head and mouth onto his penis. The suit also alleges a crew member stood guard outside the bathroom during the incident.

Warner Bros. and other corporate defendants had argued that they had no prior notice of Brand's alleged behavior and no complaints from the film set, meaning they could not have anticipated issues. However, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Adam Silvera stated that based on information available about Brand in 2010, a jury could find it was foreseeable that a person described as a "sex addict," "womanizer," "vile predator," and "ticking time bomb" might cause harm.

"The question of whether the corporate defendants had constructive knowledge of Brand’s propensities is a question of fact best left for the jury to decide," Silvera wrote in his decision. "A question of fact remains as to whether the corporate defendants could have intervened to stop the alleged assault."

The accuser's legal team expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating that Warner Bros. "can't stick its head in the sand about Brand’s disturbing past and then claim that they’re absolved of liability because they didn’t know anything when they hired him." They believe the decision moves toward holding the studio and Brand accountable and securing justice for their client.

Representatives for Warner Bros. and Russell Brand did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It remains unclear whether the studio intends to appeal the decision. Jurors in Brand's UK criminal rape trial have been deliberating since Tuesday.