For three straight years while he worked at BBC radio stations, Russell Brand was awarded a notable distinction by The Sun, Britain's largest tabloid: "Shagger of the Year." It was, of course, in perfect alignment with the bad-lad image Brand cultivated that rode a thin line between outrageous and offensive, as he became one of Britain's most famous comedians.

Brand's convictions Thursday for rape and sexual assault have turned a spotlight back on the BBC and other media employers, renewing questions about whether bosses enabled his behavior or chose to look away.

They also highlighted the ways in which his excesses were overlooked by the culture at large.