Russell Brand has admitted to having sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30, calling his past sexual conduct “selfish”, as he faces seven criminal charges including rape and sexual assault – which he strenuously denies
Russell Brand has addressed long-standing claims that he had a sexual relationship with a 16 year old girl – confirming it did happen and that he was a ‘very different person back then’.
On Wednesday, April 22, the comedian and Forgetting Sarah Marshall star, 50, appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show to discuss how he has dealt with a life in the spotlight that has seen him marry multiple times and face allegations of sexual misconduct, reports the Irish Star. Shortly after pleading not guilty to new charges of rape and sexual assault, Brand acknowledged that he has in the past had sex with a 16-year-old. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing. The age of consent in the United Kingdom is 16 years old.
During the podcast, the actor confessed, “I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30,” while insisting the encounter was both consensual and lawful. This revelation comes as he battles two fresh charges of rape and sexual assault.
“In Europe and in the United Kingdom, where I’m from, the age of consent is 16,” he stressed.
The star also reflected that he was a “very different person” back then. “I was a lot younger and I was an immature 30 year old,” he said. However, Russell took ownership of his past behaviour, which he now describes as “exploitative.” He admitted he took advantage of the “strong power differential” for his own gain.
“I recognize that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish,” he stated. “I did not apply enough consideration, barely any I suppose really, to how that sex was affecting other people.”
The actor is currently facing seven criminal charges in the UK, including several counts of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. Among the four women who have made allegations against him, one claimed that Russell began a three-month sexual relationship with her in 2006 while she was still at school. He completely denies any wrongdoing.
A woman, known as “Alice” to protect her identity, has accused the actor of calling her “the child,” while allegedly controlling and grooming her. She further claimed he even organised for a car to pick her up from school during lessons.
Alice is understood to have told investigators that she reached out to Russell’s agent in 2020 to report the behaviour.
In September 2023, the actor posted a video online “absolutely” denying the allegations, insisting that all of his relationships had been “absolutely, always consensual.”
As of February 2026, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 12, 2026.
Just months ahead of his expected court appearance, Russell released a new spiritual memoir titled “How to Become a Christian in 7 Days.”
The book’s description states, “This is New York Times bestselling author Russell Brand’s testimony and guide to a timeless, yet zeitgeist-capturing, grounded, yet psychedelic encounter with Christ.
“As much as the world is in cultural and political collapse, unless you’ve been living in a billionaire bunker on Epstein Island, you know we are in an extraordinary revival,” the synopsis continued.
“With his customary, almost shocking frankness, Brand describes his apostasy from ‘demonic Hollywood’ and radical conversion to Christianity against a backdrop of false allegations, his son’s heart surgery, and truly jaw-dropping spiritual warfare.”
The comedian, actor, and podcaster, 50, remains accused of three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault, with six women alleging crimes dating from 1999 to 2009. He denies them all.
A further two-day pre-trial hearing in his case has been set for June 16 and 17.
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