Jemima Goldsmith, the former girlfriend of Russell Brand, has publicly accused the comedian of subjecting her to "violence, coercive control and abuse," saying she once had to call the police to have him removed from her home.
In a post on X on Monday, November 9, the 52-year-old TV producer said she had personal experience of Brand's behaviour and expressed admiration for the women who testified at his trial. The statement came hours after Brand was jailed for raping one fan and sexually assaulting three TV and radio workers.
Goldsmith's Account of Abuse
Goldsmith wrote: "I am and have always been strongly and unequivocally on the side of all of Brand's victims. I am in awe of the courageous women who came forward at Brand's trial, told their stories, testified and ensured justice was done."
She added: "I have had my own personal experience of his violence, coercive control and abuse. I had to call the police to have him removed from my house in 2014 during a violent incident."
Goldsmith said she chose not to press charges or go public because she was worried about the impact of press attention on her children. She stated she has "neither seen nor spoken to Brand since that period in 2014."
Assistance to Journalists and Legal History
Goldsmith said she assisted the journalists who exposed Brand, naming Ros Urwin, Louisa Compton and Dorothy Byrne, and said she was prepared to testify in court about his abusiveness if the newspaper publishing the victims' accounts were ever sued.
She also referenced a High Court harassment case she and Brand won in 2015 against masseuse Szilvia Berki, who had alleged they treated her "like a prostitute." The case stemmed from a birthday massage arranged by Goldsmith for Brand in June 2014, which was not taken up. Berki claimed she was assaulted by Brand, which he denied, and police concluded there was no case to answer.
Goldsmith's Statement on the Incident
Goldsmith wrote that she was present the entire time Brand and Berki were together, adding: "I did not see anything untoward, despite the fact that he was later found guilty of sexually assaulting other women and he later physically assaulted me."
She continued: "If I saw any man abuse any woman under any circumstances, I would do my utmost to stop them, without hesitation." Goldsmith said she agreed to a harassment order suggested by Brand's lawyer after they lost contact.
