Katy Perry's comments about her marriage to Russell Brand have resurfaced after the comedian was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. The verdict was delivered by a jury of eight men and four women at Southwark Crown Court following a three-week trial.
Marriage and Separation
Perry, 42, and Brand, 51, first met on the set of Get Him to the Greek in 2009, marrying a year later in a traditional Hindu ceremony in India. The relationship deteriorated, and Brand announced their separation in December 2011 after 14 months of marriage.
In a 2013 interview with Vogue, Perry alleged that Brand had become controlling during the relationship and that she initially felt responsible for the breakdown before realising she was not.
Perry's Allegations of Control
Perry believed the collapse of the union stemmed from Brand struggling to accept her success as a musician and businesswoman, despite him claiming that was what he wanted. She said: "At first when I met him he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal and they're like, I can't handle the equalness."
She added: "He didn't like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting. I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can't necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day."
Text Message Divorce
Perry also alleged that Brand informed her of his decision to divorce via text message. She told Vogue: "He's a very smart man, and I was in love with him when I married him. Let's just say I haven't heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me December 31, 2011."
In 2025, Brand reflected on the split on his podcast and on X, maintaining there was nothing untoward on Perry's part and suggesting the pair drifted apart for ordinary, human reasons.
Unflattering Photograph
During the relationship, Brand posted an unflattering photograph of Perry on Twitter, showing the singer looking startled after just waking up. The post was deleted 48 minutes later after it spread rapidly online, with numerous fans at the time branding it "cruel."
