A newly released Netflix documentary, Russell Brand: Open Secret, includes a clip showing Russell Brand and his father Ron discussing sexual encounters with prostitutes during a trip to Thailand, a segment that has been described as "sickening" by viewers.
The documentary, released on Friday, November 13, examines Brand's career, personal life, and the investigation by The Times and The Sunday Times chief news correspondent Rosamund Urwin and investigations correspondent Charlotte Wace.
Clip from 2002 TV series resurfaces
The footage, originally broadcast in the first episode of Brand's 2002 television series RE:Brand, recently went viral on social media. In the clip, Brand asks his father, "Do you remember that first night? When you had that other one and I had that lovely, young Filipino one, didn't I?" Ron replies, "You fell in love every time."
Brand continues, recounting a conversation with the woman: "I remember [being] sort of sat down on the bed with her, and she goes, 'I have to leave before I fall in love with you.' And from the other bed goes, 'Oh, bleeding hell! Oh, I'm going to be sick,'" as both laugh.
Mark Pinheiro, Brand's former housemate, said in the documentary: "I remember him saying on a TV show that his father picked up two prostitutes. One for him and one for Russell. [They] basically got down to it together in the same room. I mean, yeah, that's his dad."
Reaction and context
Rosamund Urwin commented on the relationship dynamics, stating: "I think male role models, generally, are incredibly important. And if, you know, you've got your dad, you know, having sex in the same room as you, clearly that is not a normal father-son relationship. That's your first male role model right there. Inevitably, that will affect how you behave towards women."
Viewers on social media reacted with disgust. One person posted on X: "Unreal... actually stomach churning. Me n dad having a good old chinwag n larf about the time we had a load of prostitutes in a hotel! Wtf?" Another wrote: "Just blood-curdling." A third said: "As a dad. I could never imagine taking your son to do this s****. Absolutely disgusting." Others described the clip as "sickening," "nauseating," and "ghastly and cringeworthy."
Earlier this month, Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London. On Monday, November 9, he was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. During sentencing, Mr Justice Bennathan said: "Whatever women wear, wherever they go, indeed whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and to demand justice from the criminal courts when sexual predators like you, Russell Brand, act without their consent."
Russell Brand: Open Secret is now streaming on Netflix.
