Russell Brand was ‘ruthless and calculated’, prosecutors tell jury as rape and sexual assault trial begins - as it happened
Prosecutors have opened a trial against Russell Brand, alleging he used his celebrity status to engage in predatory sexual behavior. The court heard testimony regarding a 2009 incident where Brand allegedly invited women backstage after a show to engage in sexual acts.
Why it matters
This case highlights ongoing legal scrutiny regarding sexual misconduct allegations against high-profile public figures and the power dynamics involved in celebrity interactions.
Karmy-Jones is now taking the jury through the next allegation, involving a woman who met Brand after seeing his show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London in 2009.
The alleged victim said she remembered Brand telling the audience at the end of his show: “If you see me out in the foyer and you think ‘I really fancy him and would like to have sex with him, but I can’t because it is Russell Brand’, you probably can have sex with me. My age range is from 16 to death.”
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