Comedian and actress Katy Brand has criticised those she calls Russell Brand's "enablers," saying he was "all powerful" at the height of his fame, following his conviction on Thursday for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Brand dominated British TV in the 2000s, hosting Big Brother's Big Mouth and appearing in numerous other shows. He also found success in Hollywood with films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek and Despicable Me.
A joint 2023 investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches, The Times and The Sunday Times, in a documentary titled 'Russell Brand: In Plain Sight', highlighted allegations ranging from rape and sexual assault to emotionally abusive behaviour from five women. The four guilty verdicts related to offences against four different women between 2004 and 2009.
Katy Brand's Instagram Response
Taking to Instagram after the verdict, Katy Brand said it was "hard to convey how all powerful" Brand had been at the height of his fame. She also claimed that she often pitched shows and was told that there needed to be a part for him or executives weren't interested.
She wrote: "Russell Brand guilty. Good. It is hard to convey how all powerful this piece of s*** was for a while. He dominated British TV and Entertainment for a very long time."
She added: "So many meetings I had where I pitched shows and was told there needed to be a part for him or they wouldn't be interested. Practically every pitch meeting available was to one of his enablers for a while. So many women abused. So many women held back. All my admiration for his accusers. F*** him forever and ever. Amen."
She continued: "To the women who did not get a guilty conviction today, we see you, we believe you."
Katherine Ryan's Reaction
Comedian Katherine Ryan has said she feels "grief and relief" following the conviction. The stand-up and TV star added there are "a lot of women speaking privately and quietly" following the verdict, who feel "a very nuanced mix of emotions".
Ryan previously claimed in an interview with Louis Theroux that there was a "predator" in the entertainment industry, but added that she could not name the male comic she was referring to. It was widely speculated she was referring to her time on Comedy Central's Roast Battle in 2018 alongside Brand, but Ryan has not confirmed she was referring to Brand and has not named the show she was working on.
The 51-year-old is due to be sentenced on Monday after being found guilty of one rape and three sexual assaults, and has been told to expect a lengthy sentence.
