Ulrika Jonsson 'sickened' by older men dating teenagers amid Russell Brand claims
In light of the developing sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand, TV presenter Ulrika Jonsson has delivered a scathing critique of older men "pursuing" teenagers.
Last weekend, a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches was televised as a 90-minute special, featuring interviews with anonymous accusers of differing ages who'd experienced the comedian's apparent criminal behaviour first-hand between 2006 and 2013.
Appearing under the pseudonym 'Alice', one such individual claimed to be just 16 years old when Brand, who was 31 at the time, regularly organised a BBC chauffeur to pick her up from school and drive her to the star's property.
Read more: Vanessa Feltz shares how it felt when Russell Brand asked to 'have it off' with her daughters
"I cannot get my head around an adult man pursuing a relationship with a teenager. Consensual or otherwise, it’s riddled with issues," Jonsson wrote in her column for The Sun.
"It's immoral and unethical, even if everyone feels the need to argue it's legal. Just because something is legal doesn't mean you should do it."
The mum-of-four went through something comparable during her own youth.
"At the age of 16, I met a famous DJ at a film premiere I was attending on account of my stepfather working in the film industry. He showed an interest in me and asked me out on a date," Jonsson recounted.
"I was a green, naive, provincial and virginal teen, so was flattered and perplexed in equal measure by the attention. I couldn't quite believe it because I was definitely not one of the cool girls at school and he was at the height of his fame."
Tellingly, this unnamed gentlemen later requested that she lie about her age when in the company of others.
Read more: Russell Brand's co-presenter apologises after comedian 'exposed himself to woman'
"I cannot even imagine either of my girls engaging socially, romantically or, God forbid, sexually with a man in his thirties when they were merely 16. The very thought of it sickens me. Except, for some people, it clearly doesn't — because I won't have been the first or the last who had this kind of experience," she added.
"What on earth is it that makes an adult man attracted to such a young girl, apart from control — that infamous power imbalance that many men are so addicted to? I presume the innocence and vulnerability of the teenager is magnetic."
Brand has vehemently denied all accusations.
Watch: Russell Brand breaks his silence - telling followers it has been a 'distressing' week
