Russell Brand joked about previously being arrested during an appearance on ITV's The Jonathan Ross show back in October 2014, a clip that has resurfaced after his conviction.
Brand was convicted this month of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault relating to offences committed against four women between 1999 and 2005. Following the verdicts, bail was denied to the 51-year-old comedian, actor and media personality and he was remanded into custody.
Conviction and Sentencing
Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced him to 10 and a half years in prison, describing Brand as a "sexual predator" who had shown a "casual and arrogant disregard" for women who rejected him during his rise to fame. The charges came after an extensive investigation launched by the Metropolitan Police in September 2023, which was triggered by a joint journalistic inquiry published by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4's Dispatches.
Police have also stated they are examining additional allegations passed to prosecutors.
The 2014 Interview
During the show, Jonathan Ross asked Brand: "But you've never been jailed for your behaviour," to which the comedian replied: "Sometimes they would leave me in police cells for a while, and I didn't like that very much. It's tiresome in there, it's lonely, it's hard to build rapport."
Brand then addressed fellow guest Lindsay Lohan, who seemed uncomfortable, as he spoke about being arrested in New Orleans in the US. "Everyone else had an orange boiler suit on, I felt so left out," he joked. Brand claimed that "police are so much more friendly" in the UK.
He also said officers "took all his drugs from him", and said it was "boring" in the cell, adding: "That's when you need drugs."
Public Reaction
Some people said fellow guest Lindsay Lohan looked 'uncomfortable' during the chat. Many were stunned to see Brand joking about being arrested, with one person saying: "He was unbearable from day one." Talking about Lindsay's behaviour on the show, another added: "Her body language is pretty strongly trying to get as far away from him as she can." A third wrote: "How embarrassing for Jonathon Ross."
Lindsay herself spoke about being in solitary confinement in a cell by herself for 14 days, saying she "made a mistake" by going to a club then 'drinking and driving home'. "That's not the right thing to do, but to put someone in that position, it was very scary, very jarring," she said.
Jonathan Ross's Statement
Jonathan Ross addressed his past relationship with Russell Brand in a statement after Brand's conviction and sentencing. He also spoke about his friendship with TV star David Walliams, who faces allegations from multiple women who accuse him of using his fame and celebrity status to target, groom, and prey on young women and teenage fans for sex – with him denying all claims.
In a public statement, Ross said he was "horrified" by Brand's crimes and stated: "There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men (Brand and David Walliams), and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct. My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward."
Ross faced intense public scrutiny after archival footage recirculated online - and featured in ITV's documentary David Walliams: Power and Silence - showing him hosting the 2004 British Comedy Awards, where he made an onstage joke about Walliams going home with a 15-year-old girl. Ross recognised "how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage" of the joke. He said the line had been written by the awards show scriptwriting team, and believed at the time that it was merely an exaggerated reference to Walliams dating younger women.
He called it a "tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today". Ross added that had he any reason to suspect the joke referenced actual behaviour, he would have refused to tell it, severed ties with Walliams, and acted on that knowledge. Jonathan Ross and ITV have been contacted for comment.
