Russell Brand has been moved from an isolated unit to a main wing at HMP Wandsworth, where inmates have reportedly reacted with both excitement and anger to his arrival.
The 51-year-old comedian and actor was sentenced on Monday to 10-and-a-half years for rape and sexual assault. He is being held at the South London prison, where he was also kept between his conviction and sentencing.
Reaction Among Inmates
A source told the BBC that Brand was "remarkably well considering the circumstances" and had been moved to a main wing after initially being held in isolation.
A member of staff at Wandsworth said there had been "much excitement" among the inmates about his arrival, as well as "some anger".
They said: "Prisons are boring and Russell Brand being in their space has given them some fun - they've been slamming on cell doors and shouting out his name. He is a rapist, so there's also been some anger about what he's done."
Career and Sentence
Brand began his career as a TV presenter and comedian before becoming a Hollywood star, appearing in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Hop and the Despicable Me franchise. Over his two-decade career, he also gained attention through his marriage to singer Katy Perry and his appearances on TV, radio, stage and podcasts.
He is expected to serve two thirds of his prison sentence before being released on licence, and will be on the sex offenders' register for life.
Judge's Remarks at Sentencing
At his sentencing on Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan criticised Brand's "staggering arrogance". 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."
The judge said Brand's "status protected you" until 2023, when journalists from the Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches first exposed a litany of sexual misconduct, leading to women making complaints to police. He said 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".
