Lorraine Kelly has responded to the news of Russell Brand's conviction after previously calling him out on her ITV talk show. The comedian and actor was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The jury deliberated for eight and a half hours before their verdict was announced at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday (November 5).
Brand was cleared by the jury of two counts of rape and one charge of attempted indecent assault. His sentencing hearing will take place on Monday (November 9). The 51-year-old's victims came to court during the trial to reveal how Brand had forced them into sexual activity, sometimes within seconds of them first meeting, using his fame to determinedly pursue a goal of sex with 5,000 women.
Kelly's Previous Comments About Brand
One person who has called out Brand in the past is ITV daytime presenter Lorraine. In 2023, when reports of allegations against him surfaced, she recalled an appearance alongside the comedian on The Graham Norton Show in 2007. She shared a clip from her self-titled talk show Lorraine, where Brand could be seen touching his leg and said: "Oh my god, you're wearing suspenders. I have been in other films but none of that matters now I know Lorraine Kelly is a sl*t."
Lorraine said at the time: "It's an entertainment show. That was his shtick... That's what he was not just doing, but actively encouraged to do. It's not that long ago, not really... I do wonder if I would have put up with that now. I do wonder if we are in a different place now and if it even would have been aired."
Reaction on Her ITV Show
On Friday (November 6), the Scottish presenter returned to her self-titled ITV show. Joined by journalist Lucie Cave, they broke down Brand's 'fall from grace'. Lorraine said, "Well, Lucie Cave is here. I mean, this is a total fall from grace. Of course, it is. You've met him like I have. I don't think anyone was surprised."
Lucie replied, "I don't think they were. But I think, as you say, the fall from grace is at an extraordinary scale. I think because he started off as a presenter, a comedian, he started off in Big Brother's Big Mouth when I first met him. You know, he went on to do numerous different things: he was on telly, he was on radio; he sort of was all over the place, and then he hit massive global fame in Hollywood. He was in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Arthur..."
Comments on Brand's Behavior
After calling Brand's movies 'dreadful', Lorraine stated: "It was like the worse he behaved, the more famous he became. Yeah, and he was very open about the fact that he... I can't say the word. But he, you know, he went through women, if you like. Yeah, I mean, he was saying that. Shall we say promiscuous?"
Lucie added: "And I think that's the thing. He sort of almost...a lot of celebrities become famous for a role. He was famous for being Russell Brand, and that was almost something that people used in his defence. It was like, 'that's just Russell'." According to Lorraine, when 'anybody tried to complain' they were told ''it's just his shtick, that's just Russell'. "And I have to say, I feel the people around him who allowed this are shameful. They really are; they allowed him to be like that, and nobody said, 'stop it'," she said.
