Kelly Brook has said that several of her close friends were attacked by Russell Brand, adding that she warned young women to stay away from the comedian long before his conviction for rape and sexual assault.
The former glamour model, 46, spoke about Brand's reputation in the entertainment industry during an appearance on Loose Women on Tuesday, one day after he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. Brand, 51, was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009, following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Friends' accounts and warnings
Reacting to his imprisonment, Brook said she personally knew women who had accused the former comedian of attacking them, and recalled conversations in which they struggled to understand why they had not spoken out sooner.
'I have friends, very close friends that have been attacked by Russell and it's so disturbing to see what's happened over the past year,' she told the ITV panel. 'To talk to them about it, for all Brand's victims to get justice in the way they have, I'm just so happy for them.'
She continued: 'I speak to the women who were in these situations with Russell and I said, "Why didn't you say anything?"' Brook explained that one friend had believed she was the only person who had experienced such behaviour, suggesting that hearing other women's accounts had helped her recognise what had happened. 'It's only when multiple women come forward and share their stories that you realise what's happened to you,' she added.
Brook did not publicly identify the friends she was referring to or clarify whether their allegations were connected to Brand's criminal trial.
Industry culture and personal encounters
The former I'm A Celebrity contestant also reflected on her own encounters with Brand, recalling that she had been interviewed by him during his television career but was never personally subjected to the behaviour her friends had described. However, she insisted that his reputation was sufficiently concerning for her to have warned other women against him, even before the allegations that ultimately led to his conviction became public.
Recalling an encounter with a young woman who had approached her for career advice on a red carpet, Brook said she had offered an unexpected piece of guidance. 'I just turned to her on camera and just said: "Yeah stay away from Russell Brand".' She stressed that she had not been aware of the specific allegations against him at the time. 'I just knew that he was someone you needed to be wary of,' she explained.
The television personality also reflected on the culture of the entertainment industry during Brand's rise to fame, when sexually suggestive comments were frequently dismissed as banter and female performers could feel pressured to laugh along. She suggested that being in high-profile relationships during that period may have afforded her some protection from unwanted attention.
Sentencing and ongoing scrutiny
Her comments come amid growing scrutiny of how Brand was able to continue working in television and radio despite concerns about his conduct. The former comedian was sentenced on Monday, November 9, after being convicted of four sexual offences against four women. He was acquitted of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
At his sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan condemned Brand's abuse of his celebrity status, describing his attitude towards women's right to refuse his advances as one of 'staggering arrogance'. Meanwhile, several more people have contacted police with information or fresh allegations during and since the trial. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that detectives were assessing the reports as part of their ongoing investigation.
Brook is not the only public figure to speak out following Brand's conviction. His former partner Jemima Goldsmith has also accused him of 'violence, coercive control and abuse' during their relationship, alleging that she called police to remove him from her home following a violent incident in 2014. Goldsmith said she chose not to pursue charges at the time because she feared the impact of publicity on her teenage children. Her allegations are separate from the offences for which Brand has been convicted. The television producer, who said she had not spoken to Brand since 2014, praised the women who gave evidence against him and expressed relief that he had finally faced justice.
Brand denied the offences throughout his trial. He has not publicly responded to Brook's account of her friends' experiences.
