Russell Brand appeared to downplay his rape and sexual assault conviction shortly after the verdict was read.
“I’m good, I’m good,” Brand, 51, mouthed to his defense team on Thursday, November 5, after he was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, per the BBC.
According to the outlet, Brand walked at a “steady pace” and showed “little emotion” as he exited the courtroom.
The actor’s father, Ron Brand, had a little more to say after the trial, telling BBC that he was “bemused and shocked” by the verdicts.
“I just didn’t expect this — it’s wrong,” Ron said. “It’s devastating.”
Us has reached out to Russell’s legal team for comment.
Following a two-day deliberation, a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court delivered a verdict on Thursday, finding Russell guilty of four of his seven charges.
The Get Him to the Greek actor was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted on two separate counts of rape and one count of an attempted indecent assault. (The attempted indecent assault charge was reduced from indecent assault during the trial.)
Russell was remanded into custody following the verdict and awaits his sentencing, which will take place on Monday, November 9.
“Russell Brand was predatory and used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes,” senior crown prosecutor in the London Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Unit David Roberts said in a statement after court. “He was a manipulator with an insatiable desire to get what he wanted regardless of whether consent was given or not.”
Roberts continued, “As his career took off, he seized opportunities to assault the women around him. Although his tactics varied, at the centre of every assault was an abuse of power and sexual greed, with a complete disregard for the impact of his actions.”
The prosecutor added, “I would like to thank all the women in this case for their courage in coming forward and seeing this sexual abuser brought to justice.”
Multiple women accused Russell of sexual assault, rape and emotional abuse following alleged incidents spanning from 1999 to 2013. He vigorously denied their claims.
Russell previously spoke out about the allegations in a September 2023 video, saying, “I don’t mind [the media] using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous, consensual conduct in the past. What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations.”
The comedian explained, “Also, it’s worth mentioning that there are witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narratives that these two mainstream media outlets are trying to construct, apparently, in what seems to me to be a coordinated attack.”
If you have experienced sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 for confidential support.
