![\"BRITAIN-CELEBRITY-COURT-ASSAULT-BRAND\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5c9f39e6fabe10043fb90feefc35586853-russell-brand.rsquare.w400.jpg\")
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In an interview with Megyn Kelly<\/a> released on Wednesday, comedian turned spiritual podcaster Russell Brand<\/a> said that he had \u201cexploitative\u201d but \u201cconsensual\u201d sex with a 16-year-old girl when he was 30.<\/p>\n After Kelly suggested that Brand, who\u2019s now 50 and facing a rape trial in the U.K. later<\/a> this year, was being \u201crailroaded\u201d because of his\u00a0\u201cright-leaning stance on certain issues,\u201d Brand volunteered even more info. \u201cThe plain fact of it is that in Europe and in the United Kingdom where I\u2019m from, the age of consent is 16,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30, but when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cConsensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation,\u201d Brand continued. \u201cI think it is exploitative.\u201d He described his behavior at the time as \u201cselfish,\u201d saying that he \u201cdid not apply enough consideration \u2026 to how that sex was affecting other people.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2023, multiple women accused Brand of rape, sexual assault, and abuse in a joint investigation published by U.K. news outlets The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4. (He has denied all of the allegations.) One of the women who spoke to reporters said she was 16 when she had a three-month relationship with a then-31-year-old Brand, who she said<\/a> referred to her as \u201cthe child\u201d and asked her to read Lolita. She also alleged that he once removed a condom during sex without her knowledge.<\/p>\n The report prompted authorities in the U.K. to investigate Brand, and last April, he was charged<\/a> with multiple counts of sexual assault and rape between 1999 and 2005. He denied all wrongdoing again following the charges, saying in a video on X<\/a>, \u201cI was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. I never engaged in nonconsensual activity.\u201d His trial is set to begin on October 12.<\/p>\n Speaking to Kelly, Brand \u2014 whose recent rightward turn has included promoting COVID conspiracy theories<\/a> and speaking at Turning Point USA events<\/a> \u2014 suggested that the investigation into his alleged sexual misconduct was published because he had become \u201copenly critical of the pharmaceutical industry, the British government, bureaucratic agencies that have unelected power.\u201d Brand acknowledged that he did \u201cthrough my conduct hurt people,\u201d but claimed that there was no \u201ccriminal conduct,\u201d opting instead to describe his behavior as \u201cawful but lawful.\u201d<\/p>\n Stay in touch.<\/p>\n The latest in style, self, culture, and power in your inbox.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n