Convicted rapist Russell Brand was previously involved in a public dispute with Sir Rod Stewart after making a crude remark about his daughter at the 2006 GQ Man of the Year ceremony.
While receiving the accolade for Most Stylish, Brand made an offensive comment to Stewart, who was present in the crowd, about his daughter Kimberley. Brand said: "Here's to Rod Stewart who had a go at me earlier this year for too much womanising. But then again I did have a go on his daughter."
Stewart's On-Stage Response
Stewart was subsequently called on stage to collect an honour for Outstanding Achiever, and he took his chance to respond to Brand. He asked: "You went with my daughter, did you?" before instructing Brand to 'stand up'.
Brand retreated, claiming he 'took her out for one evening', to which Stewart replied: "Did you behave yourself?" Brand then withdrew once again: "I never touched that girl." Stewart countered: "F***ing right, you didn't. You mustn't come up here and boast. I speak here as a father."
Conviction and Sentencing
Two decades on, Brand, 51, has been convicted for raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three TV and radio workers during his rise to international fame. The shamed comedian showed no emotion as he was jailed for 10-and-a-half years on Monday (November 9).
He spent four nights in a cell before the sentencing hearing, during which his barrister Ian Winter KC argued his crimes were connected and the consequence of the level of fame he was acquiring. Mr Winter pointed out that the final offence 'happened very shortly after' Brand had met his former wife, singer Katy Perry.
Victim Impact and Further Allegations
One of Brand’s victims called him 'a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life'. She told court that his fame had left her afraid to speak out for years, adding: "His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless."
Following his conviction, Brand has been accused of further violence towards women. Hours after his sentencing, Jemima Goldsmith – who reportedly dated Brand for around a year in 2014 – shared a post on X in which she claimed she had to call the police on the TV personality to get him removed during a 'violent incident'. She wrote that she has her own personal experience of his 'violence, coercive control and abuse', and has neither seen nor spoken to Brand since that period.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the bravery of the women who came forward to report the disgraced television personality will bring about wider changes to the legal system. Speaking at a hospital in Hertfordshire as Brand’s sentencing hearing was under way, Mr Burnham said he would be 'relentless in making whatever improvements we can' to provide more support for victims, including making sure there are rape and serious sexual offence teams in every police force.
