Russell Brand has told Southwark Crown Court that being publicly accused of rape and sexual misconduct had "devastating" consequences, with friends and colleagues who had worked with him for more than 20 years refusing to support him. The former comedian is on trial for rape and sexual assault charges spanning a decade, allegations he denies.
Friends and colleagues 'would not touch him with a barge pole'
Asked by his barrister, Ian Winter KC, whether he had been able to persuade anyone with relevant evidence to give evidence on his behalf, Brand said he had not. Mr Winter then asked: "Would they touch you with a barge pole?", to which Brand replied: "No."
The court heard that a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and reporting by The Sunday Times and The Times accusing him of sexual misconduct had "devastating" consequences. When asked about the effect of the documentary on friends, colleagues, and people who had worked with him over 24 or 25 years, Brand replied: "It was devastating."
Hospital ban and personal impact
Brand also told the court that he had been barred from Great Ormond Street Hospital while his son was receiving open heart surgery and subsequent treatment. He said the reason given by the hospital "was due to the material published," adding that he was told "they had to bar my attendance and presence." He said the hospital was "unclear about what particular legal reason there was, but that was the reason they gave to my wife Laura and I."
Brand entered the witness box just after 10am on Wednesday and took the oath in a clear and deliberate voice. Wearing a blue suit and white shirt, he said: "I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
Charges and recollection of events
Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault, relating to six women between 1999 and 2009. He denied each of the six charges when asked if he had committed the alleged offences.
Asked if he could remember the complainants from November 2023 to January 2024, he said: "No." Questioned as to whether he is now "able to remember some of the events in respect of those six," he said: "Yes." Mr Winter asked what had changed, to which Brand said there had been a "variety of new information regarding each of the complainants, including video interviews, visits, or one particular specific visit to a location of an alleged event." He added: "I have looked at personal artefacts such as in the example of Bournemouth, a flyer."
Asked how much work and time he had spent trying to recollect the allegations, Brand said: "My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations. The impact of these allegations and accusations I have devoted myself to these matters."
Marriage to Katy Perry
Brand was asked if, by 2009, he was "really famous," to which he replied that he was. Mr Winter then asked if he married "popular music singer" Katy Perry, with Brand responding: "Yes I did," adding that he met her "whenever the VMA awards" were. Asked if that brought about a sea of change in his life, Brand replied that it did. When asked how it changed, he replied loudly: "Staggering fame."
The trial continues.
