Russell Brand's X account has shared a message from prison, just days after he began a 10-and-a-half-year sentence for rape and three counts of sexual assault. The post backed a freshly-launched change.org petition and included the three words 'Free Russell Brand'.
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'. The petition already has 11,545 signatures and calls for Brand's 'right to challenge his convictions through lawful appeal procedures to be fully respected'.
The petition adds: "This is an independent supporter-led campaign. It is not affiliated with or authorised by Russell Brand or his legal representatives."
Social media posts and account deletions
This is the second message from Brand's social media account since he was imprisoned. Posting just two days after being sent down at 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, hinting at more to come. Alongside the message, Brand's account reshared an email from Meta which read: "We disabled your account. You no longer have access to russellbrand."
Giving an explanation as to why, 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."
Background and sentencing
Brand has been removed from Instagram and Facebook, with his accounts deleted by Meta. Prior to its suspension, his Instagram account had over 5 million followers, while his Facebook account had 6.2 million followers.
Brand had used his social media in the weeks and months leading up to his trial to protest his innocence and to build an audience as a political commentator, wellness influencer and spiritual podcaster. He presented himself as a reformed Christian hosting Sunday Service with the Brands alongside his wife Laura.
X owner Elon Musk has long been a supporter of Brand since the allegations of his sex offences emerged in 2023. Prior to sentencing, Musk shared a graphic of Brand alongside another rapist with quotation marks around the comedian's convictions and suggested he was facing "potential life in jail". Musk wrote above the retweeted graphic: "Unjust."
Victim impact statements
During Monday's 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.
The victim 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's confidence and self-esteem were left "badly affected," and she no longer trusts her instincts, she said. The woman also explained that one of the worst parts of what happened was her fear that she might have contracted HIV.
After the incident she was in significant pain, the statement read. "His fame... wealth created a power imbalance," she added, and his public profile made it difficult for her to move on. Adding: "He was so powerful, rich and influential."
Another one of Brand’s victims returned to court to deliver her victim impact statement on Monday, and said she felt "physically sick" watching him soar 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 told the court. Speaking from behind a screen to protect her anonymity 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."
