Josie Long Says Russell Brand Bit Her Face Backstage

Long recounted the incident during an appearance on “Novara Live.” She said she laughed at the time because she felt overwhelmed, but later came to see the episode differently. “It took a lot for him to stop,” she said, adding that she now considers the alleged conduct “a physical assault.” Long did not identify the date or venue. The incident was not among the criminal offenses for which Brand was convicted.

Long also criticized what she called a toxic culture in comedy during the early years of her career, saying women were tokenized and sexualized and that offensive behavior was normalized. She said she hoped Brand’s conviction would become “a changing point for the industry,” and warned men in comedy who mistreat women.

On Nov. 9, Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women between 2004 and 2009, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. He denied the allegations at trial and pleaded not guilty. The jury acquitted him of three other charges. Long’s account has not been publicly identified as part of a criminal investigation.