A resurfaced clip from the 2010 Oscars red carpet shows Russell Brand flashing a card reading "Obey" at his then-wife Katy Perry during a GMTV interview. The footage has re-emerged after Brand was found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Red Carpet Exchange
In the clip, Perry and Brand are asked for their opinion about "the whole shebang." Brand begins to reply before Perry interrupts, playfully crying, "You didn't watch it!" The interviewer off-screen tells Perry she had just dropped Brand, now 51, "in it." Perry appears to say, "I call him out on his 'bull****'" before Brand tells her not to swear.
Brand then flashes a piece of card reading "Obey" at the camera before storming off, leaving Perry to continue the interview. While exiting abruptly, Brand still held Perry's hand and made an apparent attempt to lead her elsewhere.
Social Media Reaction
According to the Mail, the "Obey" logo formed part of a clothing line from street artist Shepard Fairey. However, people on social media interpreted Brand's act as an attempt to exercise control over Perry in public.
The GMTV reporter asks Perry: "Katy, how do you deal with this?" She replies: "No, he is actually hilarious." Perry adds: "I'm speechless. Usually, I am the bubbly one and I'm just like, 'Oh my god you're so funny I can't believe it'."
Conviction and Aftermath
Brand and Perry were married for 14 months from October 2010, but split in 2011. Brand has since remarried. Perry has yet to comment publicly on her ex-husband's convictions.
Six women gave evidence against Brand, who could not persuade any of his celebrity pals or former showbiz colleagues to give evidence in his defence. A jury at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was cleared of two further charges of rape and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
According to the Mail, Perry plans to write about her "dark marriage" to Brand in a tell-all book and docuseries. Sources close to the singer claim she was waiting for the trial outcome before signing off on a deal to tell her side of the relationship. A Hollywood source told the Mail Perry has received multiple offers over the years to tell her story, but she would not consider anything until after the trial.
They added: "At the moment she's considering a Netflix-type series and an autobiography. She and her team have been in active discussions. There is a lot about that marriage which people don't know. It was a very dark period in her life."
