Russell Brand has begun his 10-and-a-half year prison sentence for rape and three counts of sexual assault, and the operator of his X account appears to have backed a newly-launched change.org petition just days after he was incarcerated.
The post included a link to the petition alongside the hashtag '#FreeRussellBrand'. The image tied to the petition shows Brand and his wife, Laura Gallacher, walking outside court during his trial with the caption 'justice for all'.
Petition Calls for Appeal Rights
The petition has 11,545 signatures and calls for Brand's 'right to challenge his convictions through lawful appeal procedures to be fully respected'. It adds: "This is an independent supporter-led campaign. It is not affiliated with or authorised by Russell Brand or his legal representatives."
After Brand was found guilty and sentenced, the judge criticised his "staggering arrogance" and labelled him a "sexual predator" who exploited his status to target fans. Mr Justice Bentham accused the star of showing a "casual, arrogant disregard for any woman's right to say no".
Meta Removes Accounts
The social media post from Brand's account comes after Meta deleted his Instagram and Facebook accounts. Posting two days after he was sent to HMP Wandsworth, Brand's X account, which has 10 million followers, posted: "There never was a Russell Brand, according to Meta. Thank God for Elon Musk."
"Stay tuned," the post ended. Alongside the message, the account reshared an email from Meta that read: "We disabled your account. You no longer have access to russellbrand." It continued: "Your account, or activity on it, doesn't follow our Community Standards. No one can see or find your account, and you can't use it. All your information will be permanently deleted."
Before suspension, Brand's Instagram account had over 5 million followers, while his Facebook account had 6.2 million followers. X owner Elon Musk has been a supporter of Brand since the allegations emerged in 2023. Prior to sentencing, Musk shared a graphic of Brand with quotation marks around the comedian's convictions and wrote "Unjust."
Victim Impact Statements
During sentencing, the court heard from a victim that Brand was convicted of anally raping her in 2009 after meeting her at a comedy show in Hammersmith. She said she "struggled to sleep and eat" and to "cope with my emotions" after the attack. She said she had to take time away from work and live with her parents. "I am living with trauma and something I carry every day", she told the court.
The woman said her confidence and self esteem were left "badly affected" and she no longer trusts her instincts. She also explained that one of the worst parts was her fear that she might have contracted HIV. "His fame... wealth created a power imbalance," she added, noting his public profile made it difficult for her to move on. "He was so powerful, rich and influential."
Another victim returned to court to deliver her impact statement, saying she felt "physically sick" watching him rise to fame after he groped her within minutes of meeting her in a Soho bar in 2004. The attack left her feeling like "damaged goods", she said. Speaking from behind a screen she said: "For many years as his star was rising it was impossible to escape seeing him all over the media, being celebrated for his disgusting behaviour against women like it was all a joke. There were many times I felt physically sick at the sight of him parading around thinking he can get away with anything."
