Warning: Graphic content
LONDON -- A woman who has accused Russell Brand of raping her at his home said she told him he had treated her like an animal when he later messaged her, the British actor and comedian’s trial heard on Wednesday.
Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile broadcasters and the former husband of U.S. singer Katy Perry, is on trial accused of three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women between 1999 and 2009.
The 51-year-old denies the allegations, and told police after his arrest that he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity and the accusers might have re-imagined events.
The final complainant in the case, who alleges that Brand had anally raped her after she had willingly gone to his house for consensual sex, said that about six months after the alleged incident, she happened to see the comedian at the Edinburgh Festival where she was working.
Woman says she felt ‘really degraded’
In a police interview played to the court, she said he had then sent her a text message, to which she had replied, questioning why he was messaging her.
“Because you are dirty and I want to push you even further,” she quoted him as texting back.
She told police she had responded to Brand that he had pushed her far enough and “treated her like an animal.” His immediate response was “I’m sorry,” she said.
The exchange had left her feeling “really degraded” and “like a piece of meat,” she said in the interview.
On Tuesday the court heard the woman had agreed to take part in a sexual encounter with Brand and another woman in the comedian’s dressing room after attending one of his gigs and about a week later had gone to his home to have consensual sex.
Brand’s lawyer Ian Winter put it to the woman, who had described herself as a massive fan of Brand, that she had agreed to having anal sex with the comedian. He suggested she went along with his request as she was “young, impressionable and obsessed” with him.
“I did not agree to do that,” she said repeatedly. “I did not consent to that.” She has said he had ignored her pleas to stop.
Afterwards, she said Brand had looked horrified and that she thought he was going to apologize, but instead he said to her, “you need to clear up the mess” and then watched television, took a phone call and left the room.
Brand’s lawyer Winter argued that after the alleged incident, Brand’s behaviour was not that of someone who had just raped someone, because she had consented to it.
The woman is the last of the complainants to give evidence and the trial continues.
Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Philippa Fletcher, Reuters
If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:
- Call 911 if you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety.
- The Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres’ website has a comprehensive list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling.
- The Ending Violence Association of Canada’s website has links to helplines, support services and locations across Canada that offer sexual assault kits.
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society crisis lines: +1 866 925 4419 or +1 800 721 0066 (24/7)
- Toronto Rape Crisis Centre crisis line: +1 416 597 8808 (24/7)
- Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010 (24/7)
- Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
- Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre for current and former Canadian Armed Forces members: +1 844 750 1648
- Read about your rights as a victim on the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime website.
