Russell Brand displayed no emotion as one of his victims delivered a powerful statement in person in court on Monday — before victim statements by three other women were read out.
The disgraced comedian, 51, was convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault in his London criminal trial on Nov. 5, and will learn his sentence on Monday, Nov. 9.
Before the judge delivered his sentence, however, Brand and the other attendees in the courtroom listened to the statements of the comedian’s four victims, including a woman whom he anally raped in 2009, as well as one woman who chose to appear in-person to deliver her statement.
That victim, who was sexually assaulted by Brand at a bar in London in 2004, said she “literally lost any love for myself for a long time” after the incident and was left “thinking I was damaged goods,” per Sky News.
“I was extremely upset and traumatized… I didn’t have any respect for myself. I was thinking I was damaged goods — scared of giving off signals that could be taken the wrong way,” she said, according to BBC.
The “Get Him to the Greek” star remained impassive and did not appear to react to the statement, which saw the victim explain that she was initially left in “shock and turmoil” by the assault.
However, he was seen holding a set of white rosary beads in his hands, running them through his fingers. His wife, Laura, held hands with a female companion and was seen shaking her head.
The victim said she was left confused about what she “should” or “could do”, and that she would get “physically sick” whenever she saw him in the press, “parading around” as though he could “get away with anything.”
“It really affected how I viewed myself, I didn’t have any respect for myself and got into situations with toxic men as I didn’t have any self-worth,” she told the court, per Sky News.
She recalled how it felt like Brand was “being celebrated for his disgusting behavior against women like it was all a joke,” during the height of his fame.
A second victim, who was anally raped by Brand at his home in 2009, described the “never-ending” fear she has experienced since that incident in a statement that was read out by a lawyer for the prosecution.
She recalled the physical and emotional pain she suffered in the wake of the rape, writing: “It’s something I carry with me every day and it often feels never-ending.”
A third victim statement, written by a woman who was assaulted by Brand in 2005, described the “lasting impact” that the comedian’s sexual assault had on her. She wrote that the incident seriously “affected” her relationships with colleagues, as well as her ability to work.
“Russell Brand has managed to move on and even forget that he sexually assaulted me violently in a very public place and in front of people,” she wrote.
She added that she had been advised to undergo therapy for the “serious anxiety” she suffered after she was assaulted by Brand.
The judge, Justice Joel Bennathan, previously told Brand he would be given a “significant” prison sentence.
Brand, who was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault, was denied bail and has been in police custody since Nov. 5.
After Brand’s conviction, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Brand is under investigation for two more rape accusations. One of the accusers was allegedly 16 when she dated 30-year-old Brand.
Brand was on trial facing seven charges— three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault — stemming from alleged incidents involving six women between 1999 and 2009.
The allegations initially came to light in a bombshell exposé published by the Sunday Times back in 2023.
The podcaster, who was married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2011, pleaded not guilty to all charges.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-330-0226.
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