Lorraine Kelly has said she felt "uncomfortable" rewatching footage of Russell Brand touching her thigh and using a derogatory term towards her on The Graham Norton Show in 2007. The TV presenter spoke out after Brand was convicted last week, saying she did not think "anyone was surprised" about the guilty verdict.
"He was famous for being Russell Brand, and that was almost something that people used in his defence," she continued. "It was like, 'that's just Russell'."
Resurfaced Clip From 2007
The clip has resurfaced following the disgraced comic being jailed for ten years and six months for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. In the footage, the former actor was questioned about his film career before placing his hand on the daytime television presenter's thigh.
"You're wearing suspenders, Jesus Christ!" he declared. "I've taken off more than I can chew. I'm out of my depth."
Lorraine laughed and attempted to quieten him before Brand carried on: "Yes, I have been in other films but it doesn't seem so important now I know Lorraine Kelly's a s**t."
Reflections in 2023
The 66-year-old reflected on the footage in 2023, following the Dispatches documentary concerning Brand, which detailed allegations of rape and sexual assault. The accusations featured in the programme did not constitute part of his criminal investigation and were never substantiated, with Brand himself rejecting them.
However, the programme did trigger a police inquiry and prompted additional women to come forward, which eventually resulted in his conviction.
Kelly's Reaction to the Footage
Discussing the footage on her programme, Lorraine stated she had laughed because everyone else was and as it represented the comedian's "schtick". Yet she felt "uncomfortable" reflecting upon it 16 years afterwards.
"I usually got the charming Russell, the flirty Russell," Lorraine remarked, before viewing the historic clip. After the archive footage was broadcast, she added: "That's uncomfortable to watch now, it absolutely is. Obviously, for the record, I was not wearing suspenders at all.
"He was laughing, I was laughing. It's difficult looking back on it, and now I probably would have said something, but it's an entertainment show, that was his shtick."
Multiple celebrities highlighted the rapist's conduct prior to his conviction. Brand's ex-wife Katy Perry described him as "very controlling" and "really hurtful" during a 2013 interview. Sean Lock stated he "hated him" while appearing on 8 out of 10 Cats, while Vanessa Feltz alleged he made a crude remark about her and her 15-year-old daughter.
