Lord Alan Sugar has come under fire after claiming sexual assault allegations made against Russell Brand by four different women "were media-driven and induced".

Posting on Sunday, the Apprentice host said: "It seems strange that a few people have come forward at the same time. 

“This leads me to think this is media-driven and induced. It started with one person and then they went on to find others and talked them into complaining. I guess at the end of the day the department of public procession will make the final call if the matter is presented by the police."

It seems strange that a few people have come forward at the same time. This leads me to think this is media driven and induced. It started with one person and then they went on to find others and talked them in to complaining. I guess at the end of the day the department of… https://t.co/04qf3KoMhn

— Lord Sugar (@Lord_Sugar) September 17, 2023

The business magnate was commenting on a post from Piers Morgan, which said: "The allegations against Russell Brand are horrifying and the investigative reporting behind them exemplary. 

“But he’s denied them and language being used on here - his accusers being labelled ‘victims’ or ‘survivors’ etc - infers guilt and criminality. He's entitled to due process."

Lord Alan, who was born in 1947 into a Jewish family in east London, sparked anger from people on X/Twitter for the comment. 

The BBC, Channel 4 and Banijay UK, which bought Endemol, the company commissioned by Channel 4 to produce the Big Brother spin-off shows Brand hosted, have all launched investigations into Brand's behaviour while he was working on their programmes.

The 48-year-old comedian and actor has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, when he was at the height of his fame working for the BBC, Channel 4 and starring in Hollywood films.

Brand vehemently denies the allegations, which also include claims of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour, and said, in a video posted online on Friday night, that all of his relationships have been "consensual".

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Russell Brand (Photo: Getty)

The allegations, detailed in a joint investigation by the Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches include claims from one woman who says she was sexually assaulted during a three-month relationship with Brand when she was 16 and still at school.

Another woman has said she was raped against a wall at Brand's home in Los Angeles.

In a video statement posted online ahead of the publication of the claims, Brand said he was facing a "litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks".

As Dispatches aired on Saturday evening, Brand performed at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in north-west London as part of his current tour.

Lord Alan has been approached for comment.