Russell Brand admitted that he couldn’t find a single person willing to testify in his defense as he took the witness stand for the first time in his rape and sexual assault trial.
The 51-year-old comedian appeared at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, where he addressed allegations involving six women and incidents dating from 1999 to 2009.
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. He denies all charges.
His attorney, Ian Winter, questioned him about the fallout from a 2023 Channel 4 documentary that brought allegations against him into public view.
“It was devastating,” Brand said.
Asked whether he had persuaded anyone with relevant evidence to testify on his behalf, Brand replied, “I have not.”
“My entire life has been consumed by these allegations. I have devoted myself to these matters,” he added.
Brand also addressed specific accusations, including a woman’s claim that he raped her in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999. He denied the allegation.
Another woman alleges that he sexually assaulted her inside a London bar’s bathroom in 2004. Brand rejected her account, describing the alleged conduct as “disgusting behavior.” He also denied an allegation that he raped a woman at his North London home in 2009 following consensual sex.
During questioning about consent, Brand told the court, “I know what ‘no’ means.”