Katherine Ryan, the comedian, revealed on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs that she was faced with a difficult decision of whether or not to appear on television with a dangerous fellow comic, whom she accused of sexual assault. Although she did not name him, she stated that everyone in the industry is aware of his identity. Ryan disclosed that after much contemplation, she decided to participate in the show but made sure that he understood precisely what she thought of him beforehand.
Ryan further revealed that after referring to a man as a predator during filming for a TV program last year and getting a lot of pushback, people started asking why she had not exposed the person’s identity. Though reports suggested that she was referring to Russell Brand and her time featuring alongside him on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018, Ryan has not confirmed this and has not spoken publicly about him since allegations of sexual misconduct against him emerged.
Ryan’s Desert Island Discs interview was recorded on September 6, before the allegations against Russell Brand were reported. Brand has refuted the accusations brought against him and emphasized that his relationships have always been consensual. During her Desert Island Discs episode, Ryan talked about her decision to work with the unnamed comic and chose to speak out against his behavior, stating that she was not going to let him get away with it and allow him to believe that he could act with impunity.
In addition to her experiences with the unnamed comic, Ryan spoke about her life growing up in a small town in Canada, her family, and performing comedy while dealing with a miscarriage. She also shared some of her favorite songs, including “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls and “The Real Slim Shady” by Eminem
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