Russell Brand has further reflected on his past relationship with a 16-year-old girl, stating that while his actions were legal, he now believes they were "morally and spiritually wrong." The comedian and podcaster is set to face trial this autumn over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by six women.
Brand's Admission
Brand, 50, denies all charges, which date from 1999 to 2009. He has previously acknowledged that when he was 30, he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old who is not among the accusers. In a new interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Brand said: "How I feel about it, as I've said, is that it's not nice to know that my actions have contributed to a person's suffering."
He continued: "There should be, there must be, justice for that. The context in which those consensual encounters was happening was a sort of merry deluge of constant consensual activity that was very, very difficult to sometimes believe was happening, but one adjusts to those kind of conditions." Brand added: "I would say, Piers, on a personal level, that's wrong. It's morally and spiritually wrong, it's legal. It's not a legal issue."
Full Culpability
Brand emphasized that he is not trying to "minimise" his actions, for which he is "fully culpable." He stated he is "willing to deal with the consequences of my actions, but not so willing to deal with the consequences of actions that were not undertaken. I think that's a really important distinction."
During a previous interview on journalist Megyn Kelly's YouTube channel, Brand called himself "selfish" and an "exploiter of women." He said: "In Europe and the United Kingdom, where I'm from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30. When I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old."
Exploitation Acknowledged
He further explained: "Consensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation. I think it is exploitative. I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people."
Upcoming Trial
Brand, who hosted Big Brother spin-off shows, had his own BBC Radio 2 programme and starred in a string of Hollywood films, is facing three charges of rape, three allegations of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. His trial at Southwark Crown Court is set to begin on October 12.
Brand was appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored to promote his new book, How to Become a Christian in 7 Days.
