The Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into a charity founded by the comedian Russell Brand.
Brand is the chair of the Stay Free Foundation, which supports people recovering from addiction. His wife, Laura Gallacher, is a trustee.
Last weekend Brand was accused by four women of sexual assault after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
Brand has denied the claims and spoke about how he had been targeted by the “mainstream media” in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Those allegations have led to multiple charities cutting their ties with the comedian, including Comic Relief, which Brand has raised money for in the past through the Give It Up Fund.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “Serious concerns have been raised in the media regarding the chair of trustees of the Stay Free Foundation and, as a result, we have opened a regulatory compliance case.
“We are engaging with the charity to seek assurances that it is effectively managing risks to its reputation and is able to fulfil its purposes in line with our guidance.”