Russell Brand testified in his sexual assault trial that friends have distanced themselves due to the allegations and that consent is fundamental.

ABC News Australia, WAtoday, The Age + 9 more · United Kingdom

29 Oct 202616 outlets

What it means

Russell Brand is on trial in a London court for multiple historical sex offences, including rape and sexual assault against six women. During his testimony, he told the jury that none of his friends were willing to appear as character witnesses or defend him, forcing his defense to rely largely on his own evidence and that of his wife. This signals his isolation from former allies and adds a dramatic element to the ongoing trial.

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

The claim is solidly based on direct reporting from the trial by reputable outlets (ABC Australia, Reuters, NBC News) that quote from the court proceedings. The primary source is Brand's own testimony given under oath in Southwark Crown Court, reported by journalists present. Given the provenance (reputable secondary with named primary source), this is a confident account of what Brand told the jury.

How new

This is genuinely new as of late October 2026, reporting on testimony given during the defence phase of the currently ongoing trial.

Past coverage

We covered the prosecution's opening statement on October 15, 2026, where the prosecutor described Brand as a 'sexual predator' as the trial began.

Russell Brand testified in his sexual assault trial that friends have distanced themselves due to the allegations and that consent is fundamental.

What it means

Accuracy & sourcesSourced

How new

Past coverage

Go deeper