UK culture minister says media's sexual abuse problem is not history: Time is up

Britain's culture minister has had enough. Lisa Nandy said Sunday that sexual abuse remains a live problem in the media industry, and she didn't hedge when the BBC asked her directly. Would she bet it's still happening today? Yes, she would.

The question came days after Russell Brand, once one of Britain's most recognizable comedians and actors, was convicted of raping a woman and sexually assaulting three others. Nandy told the BBC she couldn't honestly stand behind her title as culture secretary and claim otherwise. People have brought allegations to her directly, she said, but women often stay quiet because challenging an employer comes at a brutal personal price — in her words, speaking up carries a very heavy cost.

Brand, the former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, now faces a lengthy prison term. Britain's top police officer said Friday that more allegations are likely as additional victims come forward, meaning the case isn't closed.

Brand's conviction has restarted a reckoning over how the entertainment business handles famous performers accused of wielding their power badly. Some women have said they stayed silent for fear it would wreck their careers. Nandy's message to the industry was blunt: time is up, and it needs to start taking this seriously.

The fallout isn't limited to one man. Channel 4 cancelled Married at First Sight UK earlier this month after a review triggered by serious misconduct allegations during production. In May, the broadcaster pulled every previous season of the show after a BBC report detailed allegations that two women were raped during filming.

Nandy's comments put the pressure squarely on media employers, not just the accused. She framed it as an ongoing failure rather than history — a problem she says is happening right now.