British actor and comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault

A London jury on Thursday found British actor and comedian Russell Brand guilty of rape and sexual assault after three weeks of testimony and arguments. 

Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault

Big picture view:

Brand, 51, was convicted of rape and sexual assault charges on allegations dating back more than 20 years.  Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Judge Joel Bennathan said Brand would receive a "significant" prison sentence.

Brand had been free, but he was taken into custody after the judge rejected a bail request to let him see his kids because of the possibility he might flee.

"I regret the hardship caused to the children, of course," the judge said. "But the hardship has been caused by serious criminal offending by their father."

Brand closed his eyes as the guilty verdict on the rape count was read but showed no emotion otherwise. When bail was denied, he gestured to his lawyers that he was OK and repeatedly said, "I’m good, I’m good, I’m good," before being taken away.

Brand was a ruthless, calculating, manipulative "sexual predator," prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones said at trial.

Brand previously pleaded not guilty to charges

The backstory:

Jurors began deliberating on Tuesday. The jury of eight men and four women in Southwark Crown Court deliberated more than eight hours over two days.

Prosecutor Karmy-Jones told jurors that women were a "disposable commodity" to Brand, and she used his own words to illustrate his sex drive.

Brand pleaded not guilty to multiple charges involving six women. The charges included three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.

The women, who prosecutors say did not know one another, accused Brand of sexual misconduct between 1999 and 2009, as his career grew from stand-up comedy to mainstream television and Hollywood fame.

Prosecutors alleged that Brand committed offenses at several locations, including a hotel room, the London offices of MTV, a radio station, a recording studio, a bar and his home.

Brand denied the allegations. While testifying, he acknowledged having what he described as an obsession with sex when he was younger, but he maintained that all of his sexual encounters were consensual.

His defense team challenged the credibility of the allegations, arguing that the women came forward to police years after the alleged incidents and following a 2023 documentary that featured anonymous accusations against the entertainer.

In closing arguments Monday, Brand's lawyer, Ian Winter, told jurors they must distinguish between behavior they may find offensive and conduct that constitutes a criminal offense.

EARLIER: Russell Brand charged with rape, sexual assault

Winter argued that Brand's personal treatment of women and his sexual history were not evidence that he committed the crimes he is accused of.

"It is not criminal to treat women unkindly before, during or after sex," he said. "It is not, I am afraid, criminal to be disrespectful or rude or to act like a crazy idiot."

He said Brand "had an immense amount of sex and none of it was unlawful."

"Disgusting, distasteful, immoral, who cares?" the lawyer said. "It’s irrelevant to your consideration."

What's next:

The British actor-comedian is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday. 

Who is Russell Brand?

Dig deeper:

Brand became a prominent figure in British entertainment in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and a BBC radio show. He later appeared in Hollywood films, including "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek." He was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry.

In recent years, Brand has stepped away from mainstream entertainment and relocated to Florida, where he has developed a substantial online following through videos focused on wellness, conspiracy theories and religion.