WARNING: This article may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.
An investigation by The Times, a UK newspaper, reveals that six additional women have accused Russell Brand of sexual misconduct and predatory actions, following his recent conviction for rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old former comedian and actor received a sentence of over ten years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of raping a woman and committing three instances of sexual assault from 2004 to 2009.
In a joint investigation by The Times and Sunday Times released on Friday, six women recounted non-consensual experiences with Brand, which included rape and sexual harassment.
This publication coincided with the premiere of a Netflix documentary titled Open Secret, which explores how allegations of Brand’s troubling behaviour lingered throughout his career.
One woman recounted to The Times that Brand continued to engage in sexual activity after she pointed out that he was not using a condom and asked him to stop. She stated that the incident occurred during an intermittent relationship with the actor in the late 2000s, and that Brand later texted her to express remorse.
“I rationalized it by telling myself: at least he acknowledged it,” she shared with The Times.
Comedian and actor-turned-influencer Russell Brand was sentenced to more than ten and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault by a British judge who described Brand as a sexual predator who displayed ‘staggering arrogance.’
Another woman, who recounted meeting Brand at one of his performances in 2007 when she was just 19, indicated that during a sexual encounter she expressed discomfort, yet he persisted.
“It became increasingly painful, and I said ‘stop,’ but he wouldn’t,” she said.
She claimed that Brand later remarked, “Tonight was consensual. Nobody did anything they didn’t want to do.”
“And in that moment, I realized … you are aware of the wrongness of your actions,” she stated.
The British actor and comedian was sentenced in a London court today to 10 and-a-half years behind bars. He was convicted last week of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. Get the latest on CBCNews.ca, the CBC News App, and CBC News Network for breaking news and analysis.
Numerous women recounted that they encountered Brand at his comedy shows or in situations where they felt he exploited his fame to lure them into hotel rooms, where his demeanor would shift dramatically.
One woman expressed to The Times her astonishment at how swiftly he transitioned from the “affable, charming, almost dandy-like character” he initially presented to a “crude and direct individual” in his hotel room, where she alleged he abruptly groped her and inserted his hand into her clothing.
“At that moment, I didn’t fully process it as sexual assault as I do now; I just buried the memory,” she noted.
CBC News has reached out to Brand’s legal representative for a response.
According to The Times, many women interviewed expressed concerns about not being believed if they chose to speak out, mirroring the anxieties voiced by the woman who testified against him during his trial.
One victim of Brand, whom he anally assaulted in 2009, stated in a declaration read by prosecutors in court that “his fame, wealth, and influence created a significant power disparity, leaving me feeling powerless.”
Allegations emerged against Brand in 2023
Brand gained fame in the UK comedy scene during the late 1990s and became internationally recognized through his roles in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, and Arthur, as well as a brief, highly publicized marriage to singer Katy Perry.
The first allegations of sexual misconduct against Brand were reported by The Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches in 2023. Following the emergence of these claims, additional women came forward to engage with law enforcement and the media, prompting London’s Metropolitan Police to initiate an investigation.
Brand poses alongside his then-fiancée, singer Katy Perry, at the premiere of the film Get Him to the Greek, at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles in 2010. (Chris Pizzello/The Associated Press)
During the recent four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, Brand denied all accusations, insisting that any sexual interactions were consensual and asserting that he was preoccupied with sex during that time.
He was found not guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Currently, Brand is still facing investigations regarding two other alleged rapes, one of which involves a girl who was 16 years old at the time, according to law enforcement sources.
Comedian Russell Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile entertainers and briefly a movie star, was sentenced to more than 10½ years in prison on Nov. 9 after being convicted for rape and three sexual assaults.
Documentary dives into Brand’s rise to fame
The release of the Netflix documentary Open Secret on Friday also tracks Brand’s journey from his rise as a controversial comedian known for his risqué jokes to his acting career and later transformation into a far-right religious influencer, all amid escalating rumors that his unsettling persona might conceal serious misconduct.
Jordan Martin, a former girlfriend featured in the documentary, characterized Brand as controlling and abusive, alleging that he sexually assaulted her following a disagreement.
The documentary produced by 72 Films features archival footage from his early comedy shows and appearances, including a Q&A session where he referred to himself as a “bloke from Essex” before adding, “I also raped someone once.”