Russell Brand has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, a verdict that has ended his once-stellar showbiz career and distanced him from a circle of famous friends. The 51-year-old comedian and actor was convicted of sexually assaulting an MTV worker in a Soho bar in 2004, sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker in 2005, sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker during a forced massage in 2009, and raping a young fan he met after a Hammersmith Apollo show in 2009.
He was found not guilty of orally raping the MTV worker and not guilty of trying to drag another MTV worker into a toilet to indecently assault her in 2001. The verdict, delivered yesterday, has shocked many given Brand's previous standing as one of the most famous British exports in entertainment.
Brand's rise and fall from fame
Brand had once been married to pop royalty, starred in Hollywood comedies such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, and sold out massive venues with his stand-up comedy shows. His wife Laura Gallacher rushed out of court following the verdict.
Many of Brand's former friends from the entertainment industry have distanced themselves from him following the allegations, many of which surfaced in the 2023 Channel 4 documentary. However, he once had a circle of very famous chums, now seemingly far removed from the disgraced actor.
Famous friends from his heyday
Noel Gallagher's friendship with Brand blossomed after Gallagher attended one of Brand's comedy shows in 2005. In 2016, the pair were spotted at London's Upton Park watching West Ham and Man City play each other. Gallagher previously said of Brand: "I love Russell. He doesn't half talk out of his arse sometimes." When Gallagher married publicist Sarah McDonald in a private ceremony on 18 June 2011, Brand was best man.
Jonathan Ross became close with Brand after an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in May 2006. Both were involved in a scandal involving a prank call on BBC Radio 2 and offensive voicemails for actor Andrew Sachs. Brand left the BBC and Ross was suspended for 12 weeks, after which Brand headed to America to pursue his Hollywood career.
Noel Fielding and Brand became friends when they emerged in the British comedy scene in the early 2000s. Following the 2023 Channel 4 documentary, a resurfaced clip of the pair on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year caused controversy. Lily Allen, who also appeared on the show, said her on-screen interactions with Brand and Fielding made her uncomfortable.
David Walliams and Brand were both on top of their game in the 2000s and 2010s, appearing together several times, including a 2015 Comic Relief skit where a 'panel' of celebrities decide who is the year's most-loved star.
David Baddiel was a long-time friend of Brand, often speaking about their friendship in interviews and attending Brand's wedding to Katy Perry, which was full of A-list stars.
Courtney Love had a well-documented friendship with Brand, revealing on Alan Carr: Chatty Man: "When we were friends, he tried to hit on me. He goes, 'I have had a lot of grand conversations, darling, but none of them has ended in an orgasm. Can we go in a room?' I said to him, 'Russell, you are too musky for me, man.' He is a little musky. We did yoga together, and the musk was there."
Amy Winehouse was close with Brand during the height of her fame, as the two came up through the scene in Camden, London. In a blog post following her death, Brand said he and Amy both understood the perils of addictions as he paid tribute to her.
The guilty verdict marks a definitive end to Brand's former friendships and his once-prominent career in entertainment.
