Russell Brand told police he had “countless sexual encounters” — often with people he “just met” — in a video interview released shortly after his rape and sexual assault conviction.
In the December 14, 2023 footage, obtained by Page Six, the disgraced comedian read a statement to officers interviewing him about multiple criminal allegations. "As I’ve repeatedly stated publicly, I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I’ve spent years openly denouncing. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity," Brand stated, with his lawyer present.
Brand, 51, called the 2023 investigation into him by Channel 4 and The Times “defamatory and fictitious,” and labeled the rape and sexual assault allegations “invented or reimagined.”
He continued, "At present, I don’t recall the names of the complainants or meeting them. However, it’s entirely possible that I may have encountered them, and we may have engaged in consensual sexual activity, or physical contact."
The comedian, who pointed out that he was being interviewed about “events that allegedly took place between 14 and 16 years ago,” admitted that his past encounters with “interested members of the public [were] friendly, consensual and warm.” He also said these encounters typically involved “physical contact at live shows, press events, junkets and book signings.”
Brand further told officers he “routinely made provocative jokes or comments” to people and would “on occasion, find reasons for leaving or asking partners in casual sexual encounters to leave shortly after the experience concluded.” He then claimed his “consensual encounters” have been “unfavorably reframed decades later.”
At the end of the video, Brand stated, “I do not intend to respond to your questions without sufficient time to consider the information to answer accurately.”
On Thursday, Brand was convicted of one rape charge and three counts of sexual assault following his three-week trial in London. He was found guilty of raping a woman at his former home in London in 2009.
The victim claimed they had consensual sex before Brand anally raped her and refused to “stop.”
Brand was found not guilty of two other rape charges and a count of attempted indecent assault. Brand, who faces “significant” prison time, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday.
The Met Police has announced Brand is under investigation for two additional rape accusations, including one made by a 16-year-old.
Brand’s legal troubles began in 2023 when the Met Police launched a criminal investigation into allegations against him ranging from 1999 to 2009. He denied all allegations both before and during his trial.
"Consent is fundamental, essential, necessary, and indeed in many ways more important than sex itself," he said during his testimony.