Katharine McPhee on the clip with Russell Brand: 'It was harmless'

The comedian and actor Russell Brand is going through a difficult time after the recent sexual assault claims made against him. The actor is dealing with criticism after an old video of Brand pulling actor and singer Katharine McPhee into his lap surfaced on social media. Now that Katharine has commented on the video, she claims it occurred ten years ago and calls Brand's action harmless. The viral video clip was taken from an episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon aired in 2013.

In the video, Brand embraces Katharine while stating that she is welcome to sit with him. Katharine tried to arise, but Brand kept performing the act and yelled, "For the Queen." Katharine could then take a seat after Brand had relocated, promising her he would be beside her with his seductive presence.

This video became viral after Brand, who is 48 years old, was recently accused of raping and assaulting four women. The Sunday Times and a Channel 4 Dispatches TV Special reported the statements of 4 women who alleged Brand of sexually assaulting them. One woman alleged that Brand sexually assaulted her in Los Angeles following his divorce from Katty Perry. According to The Times, she is correct about her claim of receiving treatment in a rape crisis center. Another woman alleges that she was only 16 when Brand subjected her to abuse.

Meanwhile, Brand has refuted all the allegations while admitting that he was a promiscuous person once. He also said that the relationship he had while he was promiscuous were consensual. After the allegations, the publisher Blue Bird canceled their book deal with Brand. Also, a live theatre show of the comedian was cancelled as part of the allegations.