Donald Trump once called Russell Brand a "major loser" and warned Katy Perry against marrying the comedian, years before Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault. The pair's social media feud played out publicly between 2011 and 2014, with Trump repeatedly attacking Brand's character and appearance.
Trump's Warnings to Katy Perry
In 2011, Trump wrote on Twitter: "I like Russell Brand, but Katy Perry made a big mistake when she married him. Let's see if I'm right - I hope not." He later said Perry "must have been drunk" when she married Brand.
In October 2014, after Brand appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Trump wrote: "Katy, what the hell were you thinking when you married loser Russell Brand. There is a guy who has got nothing going, a waste!" He also tweeted: "I watched Russell Brand and I think his mind is fried - he looks really bad. Russell is a total joke, a dummy who is lost!"
Brand's Response and Later Reconciliation
Brand hit back at the time, asking the future US President: "Are you drunk when you write these tweets? Or does that foam you spray on your bald head make you high?" The barbs reportedly started after Brand called Trump "a bit daft" in an interview.
Piers Morgan waded into the row, writing a column in which he declared his loyalty to team Trump. Morgan said the pair had a lot in common, as they were both "rich, successful, teetotal white men with healthy egos and a penchant for beautiful women, appearing on television, writing best-selling books and saying controversial things."
Brand's Pivot and Trump Endorsement
In later years, Brand, who had once dabbled in left-wing politics, reinvented himself as a wellness guru and turned to podcasts focusing on alt-right talking points and conspiracy theories. He publicly endorsed Trump in 2024 ahead of the US Presidential election, encouraging Americans to vote for the real estate mogul on his podcast 'Stay Free with Russell Brand'.
Brand praised Trump as a "free speech hero" when he was given the "Global Defender of Freedom" award at Mar-a-Lago in February 2025 as he moved deeper into the Maga movement.
Conviction and Sentencing
Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault on Thursday after a trial at Southwark Crown Court. He was told to expect "significant jail time" when he is sentenced next week.
