WARNING: This article may be distressing for those who have experienced sexual violence or know someone who has.
According to an investigation by The Times, a U.K. newspaper, an additional six women have come forward with claims of sexual misconduct and predatory behavior against Russell Brand, following his recent conviction for rape and sexual assault.
The 51-year-old former comedian was sentenced to over a decade in prison on Monday after being found guilty of raping a woman and committing three sexual assaults from 2004 to 2009.
In a collaborative report by The Times and Sunday Times released on Friday, six additional women recounted non-consensual experiences with Brand, which included incidents of rape and sexual harassment.
This report was published simultaneously with the debut of a Netflix documentary titled Open Secret, which investigates the persistent rumors regarding Brand’s troubling behavior throughout his career.
One woman recounted to The Times that Brand continued to have sexual relations with her even after she noticed he was not using a condom and asked him to stop. She indicated that the incident occurred during an intermittent relationship with the actor in the late 2000s, and that Brand later texted her to express his apologies.
“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 while waiting in line at one of his shows in 2007 at the age of 19, shared that she informed him during a sexual encounter that she was experiencing pain, yet he persisted regardless.
“It escalated, and it became extremely painful. I said ‘stop,’ but he did not stop,” she recounted.
She claimed that Brand later told her, “Tonight was consensual. No one did anything they didn’t wish to do.”
“And that’s when I realized… I know you are aware that what you did was wrong,” she said.
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 their experiences of meeting Brand at his comedy performances or in circumstances where they felt he exploited his fame to lure them into hotel rooms, where his behavior would shift dramatically.
One woman expressed her astonishment at how swiftly he transformed from the “friendly, charming, almost dandyish character” he initially presented to a “rude and straightforward person” in his hotel room, where she asserted he unexpectedly groped her and forced his hand down her pants.
“At that moment, I never really considered it as I do now, as sexual assault. I simply suppressed it,” she stated.
CBC News has contacted Brand’s legal representative for a statement.
The Times noted that many of the women interviewed expressed concerns about not being believed if they chose to speak out — a sentiment echoed by the woman who testified against him during the trial.
One victim, whom Brand anally raped in 2009, stated in a declaration read by prosecutors in court that “his fame, wealth, and influence created a disparity in power that made me feel helpless.”
Allegations against Brand surfaced in 2023
Brand initially gained recognition on the comedy scene in the U.K. during the late 1990s. He became more widely known internationally after starring in comedy films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek, and Arthur, as well as through a highly publicized but brief marriage to singer Katy Perry.
Reports of sexual misconduct against Brand were first highlighted by The Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches in 2023. Following the emergence of these allegations, additional women approached law enforcement and media, prompting the Metropolitan Police in London 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 refuted all allegations, asserting that any sexual interactions were consensual and labeling himself as being preoccupied with sex during the relevant years.
He was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand is still under investigation for two additional alleged rapes, one involving a girl who was 16 at the time, as per police reports.
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 explores Brand’s ascent to fame
The release of the Netflix documentary Open Secret on Friday tracks Brand’s journey from a successful comedian known for his controversial jokes to his acting career and eventual emergence as a far-right religious influencer, against a backdrop of rising speculation regarding whether his unsettling persona concealed genuine wrongdoing.
Jordan Martin, a former girlfriend featured in the documentary, characterized Brand as controlling and abusive, claiming he sexually assaulted her following a dispute.
The documentary produced by 72 Films includes archival material from early comedy performances and various appearances, highlighting a Q&A session where Brand referred to himself as a “bloke from Essex,” before adding, “I also raped someone once.”
