Russell Brand pens letter to Andrew Sachs six years after prank
Actor/comedian Russell Brand wrote a letter to veteran British actor Andrew Sachs earlier this year (14) to finally apologize for his controversial radio prank.
The Forgetting Sarah Marshall star caused outrage when he and U.K. chat show host Jonathan Ross left a voicemail message to Sachs in which the funnyman boasted about sleeping with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
Brand was forced to quit his job at BBC Radio following the on-air
scandal in 2008, and sent flowers and a short letter to Sachs and
his wife Melody in the aftermath, but they considered his efforts
"inadequate".
However, he sent them another note earlier this year (14) to say
sorry once more.
The letter, given to Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, states, "I
apologize for the distress, sadness and turbulence this has brought
into your life. I apologize for the damage I have caused to your
family relationships and for robbing you of your peace of mind.
This behavior and the consequences you have suffered as a result of
my actions are unacceptable. This is not the man I want to be and I
wholeheartedly apologize to you both. I am sorry too that it has
taken so long for me to write to you expressing this sentiment to
which the two of you are entitled... please do not hesitate to
contact me... My sincere apologies for the hurt I have caused you
and your family."
Melody Sachs tells the publication she and Andrew believed Brand's
sincerity, but they soon regretted it when their attempts at
reaching him were ignored, prompting her to add in response, "your
remorse was a sham".
However, Brand insists he has not received any messages from the
family, adding, "I haven't checked my answerphone. I had no idea. I
am available to make amends to them at any time."