Russell Brand predicted his own “10-year sentence” in a resurfaced interview on the Jonathan Ross Show, weeks before being jailed for over a decade. Last week, Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and six months after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Resurfaced 2013 Interview Clip
In a clip from a 2013 interview on the Jonathan Ross Show circulating on social media, the comedian appeared to prophesize his own fate. “A lot of the laws don’t really make sense,” said Brand, who at the time was in his “revolutionary” phase. “Drive in a particular way, a particular time. This colour means stop, this colour means go. Who should really decide? We the people.”
Host Jonathan Ross said he was just trying to keep Brand “out of trouble.” “We should point out that you do not in any way endorse criminal behaviour,” said Ross. “It depends really,” replied Brand, who is currently locked up in HMP Wandsworth. The audience laughed hysterically.
Exchange Over Sachsgate
“Russell, Russell,” intervened Ross. “I am trying to keep you out of trouble.” “Oh, yeah you’ve done a great job of that before, haven’t you? Thank you uncle Jonathan!” said Brand, referring to when the pair rang up actor Andrew Sachs in 2008 and bragged about the comedian sleeping with his granddaughter. “I’ll be looking at a ten-stretch. You’re like Fagin!”
“I’m just trying to keep you out of trouble,” said Ross, moving closer and speaking in a hushed tone. “I was regarded as a twinkly little sex addict before I met you, then I nearly ended up in jail,” said Brand. In the comments section of a YouTube video of the interview, someone wrote: “That ten stretch remark has aged well.”
Sentencing Details
At the end of the interview, host Ross leaned in and said sincerely to Brand: “The only genuinely nice thing that came out [of Sachsgate] was that we became very close, and I value you as a friend and admire you as a human being.”
The disgraced comedian was sentenced on November 9 to nine years in prison for rape, with an additional 18 months, nine months and eight months for three counts of sexual assault. He was convicted of the offences, which he committed between 2004 and 2009, following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Sentencing Brand at the same court, Mr Justice Bennathan said women always “retain the right to say no and demand justice in the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Mr Brand, act without their consent.” The judge said Brand, who has already spent four days in prison, would likely serve two-thirds of his sentence before being released on licence.
Brand showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down, but mouthed “I love you” and “we’ll be okay” to his wife as court officers escorted him from the dock.
