Jurors have begun considering their verdicts in the trial of actor-comedian Russell Brand on charges of rape and sexual assault. After three weeks of arguments and evidence, Judge Joel Bennathan instructed the jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court that they must reach a unanimous decision.
Brand, who is free on bail, has attended court daily accompanied by his wife, Laura Gallacher. Six women accuse the entertainer of sexual misconduct between 1999 and 2009, a period during which Brand transitioned from a rising stand-up comedian to a major celebrity in the U.K.
Prosecutors contend that during this decade, Brand acted as “a sexual predator,” allegedly attacking the women in various locations including a hotel room, the London offices of MTV, a bar toilet, a radio station, a recording studio, and his home. Brand, 51, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Giving evidence, Brand acknowledged a past obsession with sex but stated that his encounters were always consensual. His defense lawyers argued that the claimants’ cases were weakened by their delayed reporting to the police, which occurred years after the alleged assaults and following the broadcast of a 2023 documentary featuring anonymous allegations against Brand. Brand’s lawyer, Ian Winter, claimed the documentary had “corrupted and contaminated” the justice system. Winter further argued that the jury must distinguish between Brand's treatment of women and the commission of criminal acts, stating, “It is not criminal to treat women unkindly before, during or after sex.”
Brand gained prominence in the early 2000s through risqué stand-up routines and his work on television programs and a BBC radio show. He also appeared in Hollywood films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years, Brand has shifted away from mainstream media, relocating to Florida and cultivating a significant online following with videos that blend wellness, conspiracy theories, and discussions of his religious devotion.