West Ham United has removed all references to Russell Brand from its official channels, days after the 51-year-old was jailed for 10 years and six months at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, November 9.
Brand, who grew up in Essex and east London and was one of the Championship club's most visible celebrity fans, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Club purges website history
The club has removed all references to Brand from its website, including an article published after their 2023 Conference League victory that described him as "a globally recognised Hammers fan" who "documented himself watching the game live".
According to the Daily Mail, Brand was often given VIP treatment and access by the club, and was pictured in post-match interviews, including occasions where he kissed former managers Sam Allardyce and Slaven Bilic.
Long-standing fan connection
In February 2009, Brand expressed his admiration for former West Ham captain Mark Noble in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine, saying: "I can snog Pink or throw Christina Aguilera around a bit. But when Mark Noble comes in, I get tongue-tied. Now how does that work?"
Brand regularly attended matches at Upton Park and the London Stadium and had the club's crest tattooed on his bicep. During his marriage to American singer Katy Perry, she wore a custom-designed West Ham outfit while hosting the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2009. He frequently named 1980s striker Frank McAvennie and Mark Noble as his sporting heroes.
Sentencing details
Brand was sentenced to nine years for the rape conviction, nine months for one sexual assault, 18 months for the second sexual assault, and eight months for the third sexual assault. The three sexual assault sentences will be served concurrently with each other, adding a total of 18 months consecutively to the nine-year rape sentence.
Mr Justice Bennathan told him: "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.
"Your status protected you until 2023 when journalists collected and published the allegations that were broadcast as a Channel 4 documentary and in articles in the Times newspapers.
"Those public declarations that you were a sex offender empowered a number of women to come forward and tell their stories of your activities many years before. I now have to sentence you for the crimes you committed against four women between 2004 and 2009."
The judge detailed each of Brand's attacks, including grabbing a woman's breasts at a London bar in 2004, kissing a woman and groping her breasts and bottom at the Choice FM studios in 2005, laying his head into the groin of a female colleague while working on a Channel 4 project in 2009, and raping a 21-year-old fan at his home in 2009.
Judge praises victims and police
The judge paid tribute to the bravery of the victims who came forward to enable Brand's conviction, saying: "Finally before passing sentence, I pause to pay tribute to the determination and bravery of all the women whose evidence I have been recounting.
"I do not increase your punishment because of it, but all those women had to face being confronted and being told they had lied, or twisted the truth and, or, they had agreed to your sexual demands: that was all done because of you, on your instructions.
"I also commend the Metropolitan Police for their hard work in gathering evidence and taking great care of all the women who testified."
The judge concluded: "You will serve two thirds of that sentence then be released on licence and will be liable to be recalled into custody if you breach its terms. On your release you will also be indefinitely subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003."
The Daily Express has contacted West Ham United for comment.
