Russell Brand has admitted to having “exploitative” consensual sex with a 16-year-old girl when he was 30, describing his past behaviour as “selfish” and that of an “exploiter of women”. The comedian and actor, now 50, made the remarks during an appearance on the YouTube show of US journalist Megyn Kelly.
Brand, who faces trial in October over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by six women, said: “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.” He added that consensual sex involving a “strong power differential” – such as when a famous man attracts women – is exploitative.
The age of consent in the UK is 16, unless the adult is in a position of trust such as a teacher or doctor, in which case it is 18. Brand, who hosted Big Brother spin-offs and had a BBC Radio 2 show, is charged with three counts of rape, three of sexual assault, and one of indecent assault. He denies all charges, which date from 1999 to 2009.
His trial at Southwark Crown Court is scheduled to begin on 12 October. Among the allegations are that he raped a woman in a hotel room during a Labour party conference, and sexually assaulted a TV worker and a radio worker. Brand, who lives in the US but has a home in Buckinghamshire, is on bail awaiting trial.
