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Jen Brister says powerful men in comedy remain protected

On Channel 4 News' The Fourcast, Brister and Emily Clarkson argue that responsibility must shift from women warning each other to peers and employers taking action.

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Channel 4 News Story of November 13, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of Channel 4 News's most watched videos since yesterday, with 144,025 views.

‘I know of other high profile men’: After David Walliams - who else has allegations against them?

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3:09Brister says euphemisms downplayed misconduct while institutions protected prominent men.
7:31Brister says women in comedy know of other powerful men whose inappropriate behaviour goes unchecked.
12:15Experienced female comedians warn younger performers about staying safe in green rooms, Brister says.
21:44Clarkson argues that accountability must come from male peers and the people hiring performers.
22:47Answering the title's question, Brister says other high-profile men remain protected and she sees little tangible change.

Experienced female comedians are teaching younger performers how to stay safe in green rooms, Jen Brister tells Channel 4 News. For her, that informal warning system exposes a failure by the people running the entertainment industry.

"No, it's in-house. We police it ourselves," she says in a conversation with culture correspondent Minnie Stephenson and feminist writer Emily Clarkson.

The Fourcast episode moves beyond the resurfaced awards-show footage covered in the channel's earlier reporting to ask who protects performers behind the scenes. It follows misconduct allegations against David Walliams, which he strongly denies, and what Channel 4 News reports as Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault.

Brister describes a comedy culture in which language softened the seriousness of misconduct and production companies and commissioners protected prominent men. She says women in the industry know of other powerful figures whose behaviour has not brought consequences. The discussion does not establish new allegations against named individuals.

Clarkson challenges the idea that men cannot control their behaviour, arguing that such excuses leave women responsible for avoiding harm. She also questions the use of non-disclosure agreements and says meaningful change requires action from male colleagues and those making hiring decisions.

"It's gonna have to come from their peers, because, and from the people hiring them," Clarkson says.

Asked near the end whether she feels optimistic, Brister says she sees little tangible evidence of change. Her demand is directed at the institutions choosing whose careers to sustain: "Human beings have to be the priority, not someone's career and money."

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