Rosie O’Donnell Slams Megyn Kelly for Defending Russell Brand

Russell Brand was charged with rape and sexual assault in April 2025. 

The London Metropolitan Police charged Brand for one count of rape, two counts of indecent assault and one count of indecent assault in April 2025 for events that transpired between 1999 and 2005.

At the time, Brand immediately denied the allegations in a video response, noting he was receiving “egregious attacks” from the media in addition to the allegations.  

“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations,” Brand said in a video shared to social media at the time, “that I absolutely refute.”

Russell Brand pleaded not guilty to all charges. 

Though the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star had previously written in a 2007 essay for The Guardian that he had a “sexy addiction” and “disregard for social conventions of sexual protocol,” he vehemently denied the charges against him.

In his video statement, Brand admitted he had been a “fool” in the past, although maintained he never partook in “non-consensual activity.”

“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord,” Brand said in a video shared to his X account in April 2025. “I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was, was a rapist.”

In the same video, Brand noted he was “grateful” to have the opportunity to fight the allegations in court.  He pleaded not guilty to all five charges in May 2025. 

Russell Brand was served with two more sexual offense charges in December 2025. 

In December 2025, the London Metropolitan Police charged Brand with one additional count of rape and one additional count of sexual assault regarding incidents that took place with two separate women in 2009. 

Brand responded to the charges in a separate video posted to his social media. 

“I pray Lord, anyone that I’ve harmed or hurt in my years of mindlessness and sin would be healed, Lord,” he said in the clip. “And I pray, Lord, for the absolute truth of who I am to be abundantly revealed.”

With the additional allegations, Brand was charged with three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women for events that transpired between 1999 and 2009. He later pleaded not guilty to the additional charges. 

Russell Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. 

In a November 2026 ruling, a London court found Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was cleared of two additional counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. 

During the trial, Brand maintained his innocence and said that while he dedicated much of his life to “beyond reckless philandering,” per the New York Times, he never engaged in non-consensual activities. 

Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. 

After confirming he would sentence the Get Him to the Greek alum with “significant custodial time,” during the ruling and denying him bail, presiding judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Brand to 10 years and six months in prison. 

During the Nov. 9, 2026 sentencing, Bennathan called Brand a “sexual predator,” and commended the women who testified for their “determination and bravery.”

Bennathan said he considered Brand’s family in his ruling, calling his decision a “sad loss” for Brand’s three children, whom he shares with wife Laura Brand.

However, the judge noted that Brand had brought the decision “upon himself,” noting the comedian had acted with “casual, arrogant disregard,” for women. 

Russell Brand legal team said he is a “fundamentally different person” now. 

Prior to the sentencing, Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter KC said his client is “fundamentally a different person today,” than he was when the incidents took place, per CBS News. 

Winter noted that the rape for which Brand was found guilty—which took place in 2009—was a “momentary total failure.”

Brand is also represented by Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky. His legal team will have the opportunity to appeal.