Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Russell Brand had no character witnesses in his trial, apart from his wife, Laura, but two public figures have spoken out in support of Brand since he was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
The trial heard that the star treated women as “disposable” and “amusements” to fill his voracious sexual appetite in a string of attacks between 2004 and 2009, by which time he had achieved “staggering fame”.
Brand, who vehemently denied the “very serious criminal allegations”, faces “a custodial sentence of some length”, which will be announced on Monday (8 November).
Russell Brand was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)
Since the conviction, numerous stars have celebrated the verdict, but GB News host Neil Oliver decided to remind people of his friendship with the former comedian and star of films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
Oliver reshared a photo in which he had declared Brand was his friend, originally posted in April 2025, and added the caption: “Still is.”
The presenter is known for fronting history documentaries for the BBC and was a co-host of the first series of Coast in 2005. He replaced Nicholas Crane as the show’s main presenter for the following four series.
Oliver joined GB News in 2021 and faced complaints after protesting against vaccine safety during the pandemic. His views led to his resignation from several positions, including a fellowship at the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Neil Oliver had reminded people he is friends with Russell Brand (X)
Another person to jump to Brand’s defence is controversial US commentator Megyn Kelly, who said on an episode of The Megyn Kelly Show the day of the verdict: “I had a very difficult time believing that he was capable of rape, as I do right now. I don’t believe these charges. I’m going to be honest. I don’t.”
She called him an “utterly charming guy”, adding: “I believe he dearly loves his wife Laura, his children, and, as I said, I think he has found God and he’s asked for forgiveness from a lifestyle that he completely rejects now.”
Megyn Kelly has voiced support for Russell Brand (The Megyn Kelly Show/SiriusXM)
Another supporter of Brand is his wife, Laura Gallacher, who told the judge: “Russell, my husband, is caring. He is kind. He is a wonderful father to our children. He is an amazingly attentive husband.”
The pair first had a relationship in 2006 and reconnected in 2014, before marrying in 2017. They have three children together.
When she gave testimony in court, Laura admitted that she was “very aware” of Brand’s promiscuity during the early stage of their original relationship, stating: “I wasn’t interested in having a relationship with him if he was sleeping with other people. I was invested. We both had told each other we loved each other, but it was clear it was difficult for him to be monogamous.”
Russell Brand was joined each day of his trial by wife Laura Gallacher (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)
Brand went on to marry singer Katy Perry in 2010, before they announced their split just 14 months later and he reconnected with Laura – sister of broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher – in 2015.
She told the court that Brand was “so different” from the person she’d known in the Noughties, and they “both immediately knew it was going to be serious”.