Russell Brand recently appeared on "The Megyn Kelly Show" and candidly admitted to engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old when he was 30. Although he noted that the age of consent in the United Kingdom is 16, he recognized that the interaction with someone significantly younger than him was "exploitative."
"Thank you, Megyn Kelly, for affording me the opportunity to address, in particular, your rightful and understandable anger," he said. "The fact remains that in Europe and the United Kingdom, where I hail from, the age of consent is 16. And I did engage in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old when I was 30. However, when I was 30, I was a vastly different person. I was younger at heart, and an immature 30-year-old."
Brand continued, "Consensual sex, particularly when there is a significant power imbalance, such as when you're a famous man with the ability to attract women that I had at that time, can involve exploitation. I recognize that my past sexual conduct was selfish, and I didn't apply enough consideration, hardly any, really, to how that sex was affecting other people."
In April 2025, Brand was charged with rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault related to four separate women in alleged incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2005. In December of that same year, additional charges of rape and sexual assault were brought against him related to two other women in incidents that allegedly took place in 2009. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Brand was originally scheduled to stand trial at London's Southwark Crown Court starting June 16, but last month, the trial was postponed to October 12.
