Katherine Ryan has spoken out following Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault, describing feelings of both grief and relief. The comedian addressed the verdict on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, four years after she told Louis Theroux that there was a "predator" in the entertainment industry.
Ryan's Emotional Response to the Verdict
Ryan, who has never confirmed that Brand was the person she referred to, said the guilty verdict left her feeling "quite dysregulated again, caught off-guard, emotional, in awe of the survivors who also had nothing to gain." She added, "They came forward despite Russell Brand having fame, power, money, and a legion of fans ready to attack them."
"I will never be someone who, like, dances on graves," she acknowledged. "There has been some justice done today. There's a level of relief, but there's grief alongside relief."
Concerns for Survivors and What Comes Next
Ryan reflected on the impact on those affected, saying, "I just think again and again about people who have been hurt, and who have to carry that, who've carried that around long enough, and will continue to carry that in some way, regardless of what justice is done." She also expressed worry about the aftermath, noting Brand had "spent a long time cultivating this idea that the establishment has invented these claims against him, and he's martyred himself to a growing audience who really still think that it is the courageous survivors who are the villains in this story."
Ryan added, "I just… I don't know if you can podcast from jail. I hope not."
Background and Conviction Details
The 8 Out of 10 Cats star, who appeared alongside Brand in Comedy Central's Roast Battle in 2018, made headlines in 2022 when she noted there was a "predator" in the industry. She said she would not name the male comic because it was a "litigious minefield," though several fans speculated Brand may have been the person in question.
After a four-week trial, Brand, 51, was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, November 5. He was remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on Monday. The Metropolitan Police has confirmed Brand remains under investigation over further claims made by two other women. Trial judge Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand to expect a "significant custodial term."
