Comedian turned conspiracy influencer, Briton Russell Brand was sentenced Monday to ten years in prison for rape and sexual assault by a London court.

Published on: 09/11/2026 - 18:00

Briton Russell Brand, star comedian turned conspiracy influencer, was sentenced Monday, November 9 in London to ten years and six months in prison for rape and three sexual assaults between 2004 and 2009, after a month-long trial.

The 51-year-old former comedian and presenter showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down by the judge at Southwark Crown Court, who branded him a "sexual predator". But the fall is spectacular for this man with long hair and piercing black eyes who, in the 2000s, embodied the irreverent spirit of British entertainment.

For several years, he has reconverted himself into a conspiracy guru driven by the Christian faith on social networks, where he is followed by millions of people.

"About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous. You were intelligent and, in the eyes of many people, funny and charismatic. But you had also become a sexual predator," Judge Joel Bennathan said.

Russell Brand was found guilty on Thursday of raping one of his fans, who was 21 at the time, and of sexually assaulting three other women, including an MTV employee and another from Channel 4.

The magistrate highlighted the “stunning arrogance” of Russell Brand, considering that his celebrity had given him the impression that he “could act whenever he wanted and as he saw fit”.

For the judge, his "status" had "protected" Russell Brand until 2023, when journalists revealed for the first time a long series of sexual offenses, which led women to file complaints.

The judge paid tribute to “the determination and courage of all the women” who testified.

As he left the courtroom to be booked into custody, Russell Brand turned to his wife, Laura Gallacher, mother of their three children, and said, "Everything will be fine."

A journey marked by scandals

The victims were given the floor one last time on Monday morning. Russell Brand made the sign of the cross before the first spoke, behind a curtain to preserve his identity.

For "many years, as his career took off," it was difficult to avoid Russell Brand because "his disgusting behavior toward women" was "glorified," said the woman, whom he sexually assaulted in a bar in 2004.

After the attack, “for weeks, I was in shock, trying to understand what had happened to me,” she said.

The former presenter claimed during the trial that he had always had consensual sexual relations.

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London police questioned the ex-comedian on two new rape charges. The head of the Met Police, Mark Rowley, said he expected to see "many more" emerge.

Since his debut at age 25 on MTV, Russell Brand's career has been marked by scandals. He was fired from the music network after dressing up as Osama bin Laden shortly after 9/11 and inviting his dealer into the studios.

Far from ruining his career, these escapades contributed to his popularity. He became a key figure on British radio and television, while his often crudely humorous stand-up shows were very successful. He himself then claimed an unbridled sex life and said he had had more than a thousand partners.

Antivax and conspiracy theorist

His success in the United Kingdom opened the doors to Hollywood, where he landed several film roles. But in 2008 he resigned from the BBC after a phone call deemed obscene on air.

Two years later, his marriage to singer Katy Perry made him a global celebrity, although the union lasted only fourteen months.

At the same time, Russell Brand has publicly spoken about his struggles with drug and sex addiction and presented himself as a man seeking redemption.

On social networks, his videos mix spirituality and criticism of traditional media and political elites.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, he gained a new audience with his positions against vaccination, his dissemination of conspiracy theories and his displayed support for Donald Trump.

Converted to evangelical Christianity, baptized in the Thames in 2024 and settled in the United States, he regularly talks about his faith and presents his journey as that of a transformed man.

During the trial, to which he went with a Bible, he said he felt "blessed" and felt the presence of God in the courtroom.

With AFP

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