In a new interview ahead of his upcoming trial, Russell Brand has spoken publicly about a past sexual encounter, acknowledging that while it was legally “consensual” at the time, he now views it as “exploitative” given the power dynamics involved.
Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, Brand addressed claims that he was “taking advantage of 16-year-olds,” confirming that he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old when he was 30.
He pointed to the legal context in the United Kingdom, where the age of consent is 16, but conceded that legality did not necessarily equate to ethical clarity.
“When I was 30, I was a very different person,” Brand said, describing himself as “an immature 30-year-old.”
He went on to reflect more broadly on the nature of consent in situations shaped by fame and influence. “Consensual sex… when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man… I think involves exploitation,” he said.
“I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration… to how that sex was affecting other people.”
He added: “Me as a 30-year-old, I had no business having consensual sex with… girls that were just over the age of consent.”
Referencing UK law, Brand said the age of consent exists to protect those who may not be in a position to make informed decisions, adding: “If the age of consent is 18, don’t have sex with someone who’s 16. If it’s 16, don’t have sex with someone who’s 15. That’s the law.”
Discussing his past behaviour, Brand also said: “The reason that I was sleeping with lots of people, I think it’s because I see beauty. I see it. I see the beauty.”
The comments arrive as Brand prepares to face trial in the United Kingdom, where he has been charged with multiple offences, including rape, sexual assault and indecent exposure, relating to allegations made by several women. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Due to the UK’s contempt of court laws, Brand did not discuss the specifics of the case in the interview.
Instead, he maintained a distinction between what he described as his past behaviour—now characterised by him as morally flawed—and the criminal allegations he continues to deny. “I am assertively opposing the idea that this is a judicial criminal matter where consent was overridden,” he said, adding that his celebrity status afforded him what he described as “directed” or “endless consent.”
Brand also said he is attempting to atone for what he called his “sinful” past, while expressing confidence in the legal process ahead. His trial is scheduled to begin in October, where both he and the complainants will have the opportunity to present their accounts in court.
What Did Russel Brand Say About Katy Perry?
Reflecting on the breakdown of his marriage to pop star Katy Perry, Brand struck a notably self-critical tone, taking responsibility for the pressures he placed on the relationship.
“I take total responsibility for the mistakes I made in that marriage,” he said. “I felt inadequate and not enough on my own, and I think I saw her as this big, glorious thing. Even though I knew her as a person—she was really, really lovely—I pushed to get married early because I thought that being with her would somehow make me better, more important.”
Brand suggested that this mindset ultimately placed an unfair burden on Perry, who was in her mid-twenties at the time and focused on her rapidly ascending career.
“That put her under an unnecessary amount of pressure,” he continued. “She was very young—25 or 26—and pursuing her dream, which she did, of becoming the world’s most famous pop star. While she was doing that, I was in a kind of crisis, thinking: ‘Why isn’t this working? I’ve married a pop star—why do I still feel like this?’”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
