Noel Gallagher comes under fire for using friend Russell Brand in ‘creepy’ music video where he leers over a distressed woman

Noel Gallagher has come under fire for casting his friend Russell Brand in the 2011 music video for his High Flying Birds song, AKA… What a Life!

In the video, Brand plays a villain called The Dark, an evil being that is trying to coerce a distressed woman into drinking a potion. 

Fans have revisited the video in recent days, claiming they see it ‘in a new light’ after the British comedian, 48, was accused of rape and sexual assault in a Sunday Times and Channel 4 investigation.

He has vehemently denied the allegations – but the BBC, Channel 4 and production firm Banijay have launched investigations into his behaviour, while the Met Police says it is investigating a complaint received at the weekend. 

Brand and Gallagher have been friends since meeting at one of his comedy shows in 2005, with Brand serving as the Oasis star’s best man when he married Sarah McDonald in 2011.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=d6m03FUYaTM%3Frel%3D0

On screen: Noel Gallagher has come under fire for casting his friend Russell Brand in the 2011 music video for his High Flying Birds song, AKA… What a Life!

Pals: Brand and Gallagher have been friends since meeting at one of his comedy shows in 2005, with Brand serving as the Oasis star’s best man when he married Sarah McDonald in 2011 (pictured in 2013) 

Gallagher cast him in the follow up music video to The Death of You and Me, with the clip depicting a woman, titled The Waitress, seen entering a wagon where she is greeted by The Dark. 

Brand is seen sitting on a throne as he proceeds to talk to The Waitress in a series of riddles, stating: ‘By entering this space, this sacred space, this humble shack, this dwelling of mine you have consented of course to a decision, a choice, and the nature of choice in this world of ours is that there’s really no decision at all.’

He attempts to convince her to drink a potion and as The Waitress shows signs of distress, he instructs his ‘nieces’ to hold her down while he attempts to force it down her. 

As The Waitress cries, Brand is seen smiling and leaning in to smell her while pouring the liquid down her throat. 

Gallagher makes an appearance later in the eight-minute long video to save The Waitress, with the pair driving off into the sunset. 

Commenting on the video in the wake of Brand’s assault allegations, fans commented: ‘Erm Noel, you might want to edit this video now mate……’;

‘Who regrets casting Russell Brand in this now creepy video !’; ‘Well… I’m seeing this in a new light’; ‘Yikes’

‘The Russell Brand portion of the video hits a lot different now what with the allegations’;

‘You know, I used to hate the video for “AKA… What A Life!” for spoiling an all-out rocking song with Noel Gallagher’s messiah fantasies. NOW I loathe it even more for letting #RussellBrand parade his creepy r*pe/mind control routine. #Dispatches.’ 

MailOnline has contacted Gallagher’s representatives for comment. 

Upsetting: In the video, Brand plays a villain called The Dark, an evil being that is trying to coerce a distressed woman into drinking a potion

Shocking: He attempts to convince her to drink a potion and as The Waitress shows signs of distress, he instructs his ‘nieces’ to hold her down while he attempts to force it down her

Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by multiple women, including one who says she was 16 at the time. 

One woman has alleged Brand raped her in his Los Angeles home, while another accused him of grooming her as they were involved in an allegedly ’emotionally abusive and controlling relationship’ for three months when she was just 16 and still at school, and he was 31.

A third accuser claimed the comic sexually assaulted her while she worked with him in Los Angeles, and that he threatened to take legal action if she told anyone else about her allegation, and a fourth detailed the alleged sexual, physical and emotional abuse she was subjected to.

Brand posted a video on YouTube and Twitter refuting the allegations and insisted relationships at the time of his promiscuity’ were ‘consensual’. 

Russell’s behaviour is alleged to have been common knowledge among female performers on the comedy circuit, who are said to warned each other about him and his attitude towards women is alleged to have been an open secret in radio and TV production, according to sources who briefed The Sunday Times. 

Bosses at the BBC and Channel 4 are accused of turning a blind eye towards the entertainer’s behaviour while he worked for them as a presenter between 2006 and 2013.

The broadcasters have insisted they took all necessary steps over him, but executives could still be called before a Government select committee where MPs will grill them over what they knew.

Shocked: Fans have revisited the video in recent days, claiming they see it ‘in a new light’ after the British comedian, 48, was accused of rape and sexual assault

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