A 2007 clip of Russell Brand joking about rape on Channel 4's The Big Fat Quiz of the Year has resurfaced on social media after a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault. The 51-year-old was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, and cleared of two further rape charges and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
In the video, Brand is seen joking alongside Jonathan Ross, Noel Fielding and host Jimmy Carr. The exchange centred on singer Lily Allen, also a guest on the panel show. Ross voiced his 'concern' for Allen, describing Fielding and Brand as 'two of the best-known c***smen in the business', and insisted on swapping chairs with her so she could sit closer to Rob Brydon and David Mitchell and 'might go home with her dress still on'.
Joke exchange draws backlash
Fielding then interjected: 'How dare you, we're not rapists,' to laughter from the studio audience. Carr questioned why Fielding was wearing a cape 'if [he] wasn't a rapist', and the Mighty Boosh star said he was wearing a Jack the Ripper cape. 'He wasn't a rapist, he was a…,' Fielding said, with Brand finishing: 'Serial murderer.'
Brand added: 'There is no direct corollary between rapes and capes; it's just a rhyme. Leave him alone. What if, horror of horrors, he ain't even done a rape? You could ruin his reputation,' which also drew laughter from the audience.
Clip viewed millions of times
The resurfaced clip has been viewed 2 million times on X and has drawn comments describing it as 'sickening', particularly as Allen was the only woman present during the extended joke. Allen reflected on the exchange in a 2023 interview with Grazia UK, following initial allegations against Brand that were jointly investigated by The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. She recalled seeing the clip circulating, noting 'there are comments, I think, about me being raped or something.'
She continued: 'And I laugh along with it. In retrospect, that's really horrendous. It makes me uncomfortable, but I don't think I felt that at the time, because it was the culture.'
Brand will now spend the weekend in custody before returning to court on Monday to learn his prison sentence. The Met has confirmed investigations are ongoing into two further allegations of rape made against Brand.
