Russell Brand Testifies at His Trial That Losing Friends After the 2023 Documentary “Was Devastating”

28 Oct 2026, 17:47 · Thought Catalog

REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Updated 4 hours ago, October 28, 2026

Asked by his lawyer whether he’d committed any of the alleged crimes, Russell Brand answered “no” from the witness box at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, October 28.

Russell Brand outside Southwark Crown Court in London on October 28, 2026, as his defence case got underway. Photo by Toby Shepheard / Reuters.

The British comedian and actor, 51, is in the third week of his trial. He’s accused of 3 counts of rape, 3 counts of sexual assault and 1 count of attempted indecent assault involving 6 women, with the alleged incidents spanning 1999 to 2009. He denies every allegation.

Russell Brand outside Southwark Crown Court in London on October 26, 2026, as his rape and sexual assault trial entered its third week. Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe / Reuters.

During his testimony, Brand also described losing the support of friends and colleagues after a 2023 documentary aired allegations about his behaviour. Asked by his lawyer, Ian Winter, about the effect of friends turning away, he said: “It was devastating.”

Russell Brand appears in the witness box at Southwark Crown Court in London during his ongoing trial on sex crime charges. Photo by REUTERS.

Jurors have been told that all 6 complainants approached detectives after the documentary aired and newspaper articles were published. Those reports included anonymous allegations from other women who aren’t involved in this trial.

Winter asked whether Brand had persuaded any friends or acquaintances who could testify on his behalf to come to court. “I have not,” Brand replied.

“Will they touch you with a bargepole?” Winter asked. “No,” Brand said.

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