Russell Brand Accuser Claimed She Assumed Comedian Was Gay Before Alleged Rape
Prosecutors at Russell Brand's rape trial stated that one accuser invited him to her room, believing him to be gay, before the alleged assault.
One of Russell Brand’s accusers believed he was gay and felt safe inviting him to her room, only to be allegedly raped after he performed “silly walks” while wearing “budgie smuggler” underwear, prosecutors told the star’s rape trial Wednesday.
Brand, who is now married and has three children, met the woman, who was in her early 20s at the time, at a 1999 conference for the UK’s left-wing Labour Party in Bournemouth. He reportedly charmed her with his politeness and compliments.
“She was pretty, always in a gentlemanly way, and she was flattered,” prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told the court, according to the BBC. “But at that point, she assumed he was gay – he gave no indication of being attracted to her.”
After inviting Brand to her room, the accuser became alarmed when the comedian stripped down to tight white underwear. Prosecutors stated Brand then began “prancing around the room” and imitating the “silly walks” of the 1970s sitcom character Basil Fawlty.
When she questioned his behavior, Brand allegedly responded that it was simply his nature and that he was “mostly naked at home.” The prosecutor said the woman “froze” before Brand allegedly sexually assaulted her. She reported feeling as if she had “drifted out of her head” during the incident.
Following the alleged assault, Brand reportedly acted as if nothing had happened, leaving the accuser feeling “ashamed” and blaming herself for inviting him back to her room. Karmy-Jones described Brand as a “ruthless sexual predator” who allegedly bragged about wanting to sleep with 5,000 women.
Prosecutors said Brand’s behavior the day after the alleged attack was also unusual, with claims he told friends they needed to leave Bournemouth immediately.
This alleged incident is the earliest offense brought against Brand, who faces charges including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These alleged offenses are said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009.
Brand has consistently denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his BBC radio show and appeared in films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Rock of Ages.”