Fame Under Fire: Russell Brand on Trial

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have reached a settlement in their legal dispute linked to the movie It Ends With Us, ending proceedings two weeks before a trial due to begin on 18 May. A federal judge had already dismissed 10 of 13 claims, including sexual harassment, defamation, and civil conspiracy, leaving claims for retaliation, aiding and abetting retaliation, and breach of contract, to proceed.

A small magazine with dogs in designer clothing on its covers finds itself up against Condé Nast, publisher of Vogue, in a trademark dispute over name. Both sides are defending the right to use the name ‘Dogue’.

A separate case carries a $27m claim after a comedian’s take on The Lion King’s opening lyrics went viral.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

D4vd, real name David Burke, has been charged with first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and the unlawful mutilation of remains after the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors say the charges include special circumstances, and Burke has entered a not guilty plea.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and our resident trial attorney Shaun Kent look at what the charges mean and why the case took months to reach arrest and charge.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Motions in limine reveal competing attempts to restrict evidence in the Lively–Baldoni case, including challenges to witness testimony, viral material and past controversies.

Legal arguments focus on whether the material informs the claim of retaliation, or risks biasing a jury. Our resident trial attorney Shaun Kent explains how evidentiary rules shape what may ultimately be presented in court.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Deadpool and Wolverine/Marvel Studios/Shawn Levy

A judge has thrown out several claims in Blake Lively’s lawsuit connected to the movie It Ends With Us. The decision is based on legal thresholds around where events took place and how her role was classified.

Retaliation remains part of the case, based on alleged actions following complaints about working conditions. The court has allowed those claims to proceed. Both sides deny any wrongdoing.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty talks to trial attorney Shaun Kent about the summary judgement.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has been sacked from the BBC following allegations relating to his personal conduct. We look at what we know, and the ongoing uncertainty around the circumstances surrounding his exit.

And there’s a fresh focus on the Epstein files. We examine exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and model scout Ramsay Elkholy. Messages between the two include degrading descriptions of young women and references to arranging meetings under the guise of professional opportunities, raising questions about coercive behaviour and the blurred boundaries between modelling work and Epstein’s access to potential victims.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

A full season of The Bachelorette has been cancelled days before broadcast.

ABC made the decision after a video surfaced of the latest Bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul in a domestic incident from 2023.

The case had already been through the courts. Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested and later entered a plea in abeyance on a charge of aggravated assault. This means she had accepted responsibility in court and the case was effectively put on hold. But now the case is active and open as police say further allegations have been made on both sides.

The series was completed but will not be shown.

Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent discuss what changed when the footage emerged, and whether ABC could now face legal or financial consequences.

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Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 1114.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty

The case against Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has gripped Norway throughout its seven weeks. He faces 39 charges at Oslo District Court, including four counts of rape, coercive control of a former partner, drug offences, and repeated breaches of restraining orders. He denies the most serious charges.

The most serious allegations center on four anonymous women who told the court they had been sexually assaulted while asleep, discovering what had happened only when police showed them video footage filmed by the defendant during the alleged offences. He maintains all sexual activity was consensual.

The trial that has shocked Norway is coming to a close. Three judges will deliberate, with a verdict expected in the coming months.

A warning: this programme contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence. If you are affected by anything in the programme, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty

Controversial US rapper Kanye West - now known as Ye - has been ordered to pay $140,000 to a man he hired to renovate his $57m Malibu mansion.

Handyman Tony Saxon claimed he was injured while working at the beachfront house in 2021, that he wasn’t paid properly and that he was fired after refusing to run generators that released carbon monoxide inside the property.

West’s team had argued Saxon was an unlicensed contractor who “destroyed” the “architectural gem” while working as an independent contractor and that bank records showed Saxon was paid $240,000 during the six weeks he worked for the rapper.

A jury sitting in Los Angeles Superior Court heard Saxon initially filed a lawsuit in 2023, alleging unsafe working conditions, unpaid wages and wrongful termination.

In true Ye style, it’s not been a traditional trial - at one point he appeared to fall asleep while giving evidence on the stand. This claim was then refuted by his defence attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, who told the jury on Monday: “He wasn’t sleeping. He was bored. This is beneath him.”

Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the details of what went down - plus what the latest legal battle means for future cases against the self proclaimed Yeezus.

We love hearing from you - send us your questions or comments as a voicenote or message via Whatsapp to 0330 678 1114.

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty

US singer D4vd has been named as the ‘Target’ of a Grand Jury investigation into the apparent murder of a teenage girl.

The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found decomposing in a car belonging to the singer in Hollywood last September - but so far there have been no arrests, no charges and no indictment.

Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the latest in the legally fraught process, why crucial court documents have been sealed, and what happens next.

We also answer your pressing questions on the latest Epstein files dump - does Madeleine McCann’s name appear? And was Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch linked to the convicted sex offender?

Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty