Russell Brand, jailed on Monday for 10-and-a-half years for rape and sexual assault, has been mocked by comedian Jimmy Carr with a dark prison joke during a live show.
Brand, 51, was sentenced for the 2009 rape of a fan and sexual assaults of TV and radio workers in 2004, 2005 and 2009. He was found guilty last week and is now behind bars after Mr Justice Bennathan criticised his “staggering arrogance” in his offending.
Judge's sentencing remarks
The judge told Brand: “About 20 years ago Russell Brand, you were becoming famous, you were clever, and in many people’s eyes you were funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.”
He added that Brand harboured a “casual arrogant disregard to any woman’s right to say no to you”, while his fame meant he believed “you could act when you liked and how you liked”. The judge imposed a nine-year jail term for the rape and added an extra year and a half for the sexual assaults.
Carr's joke goes viral
Hours after the sentencing, Carr mocked Brand in a clip posted to X. The video shows Carr performing stand-up when an audience member asks him “what do you think of Russell Brand?”
Carr replies: “This is interesting. It’s crazy to think that Russell Brand is going to jail for something he did not do — get consent.” He then jokes: “I think Russell Brand’s views on sex and consent are going to change in the next week.”
Ongoing investigations and political response
The Met Police has confirmed it has active investigations against the Essex-born entertainer. His ex-girlfriend, Jemima Goldsmith, issued a statement after his sentencing saying she “had my own personal experience of his violence, coercive control and abuse”, requiring her “to call the police to have him removed from my house in 2014 during a violent incident”.
The Prime Minister has vowed to change the legal system in the wake of Brand’s trial. Andy Burnham pointed to the bravery of the women who came forward and said the government 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.
Last week, Burnham told Times Radio he would “look closely” at what Sir Mark Rowley said after the Metropolitan Police Commissioner backed calls to change legislation to tackle “rape myths”. Sir Mark had earlier told the BBC that what he heard reported from Brand’s trial came very close to “victim blaming”. Victims Commissioner Claire Waxman has called for a new legal duty on judges to direct juries if rape myths have been ventured during a trial.
