London, April 24, 2026
Actor and comedian Russell Brand, 50, has publicly acknowledged engaging in sexual relationships with a 16-year-old during his 30s, describing his past behavior as "selfish" and "exploitative" in an interview with US journalist Megyn Kelly.
The British entertainer, currently facing allegations from six women regarding incidents between 1999 and 2009, insisted his actions did not violate UK law, where the age of consent is 16. His trial is set to begin on April 12, according to the PA news agency.
Admission of Exploitative Behavior
Brand conceded during the YouTube interview that his sexual conduct reflected a pattern of disregard for others' wellbeing. "Ich erkenne an, dass mein sexuelles Verhalten in der Vergangenheit egoistisch war und dass ich kaum, wenn überhaupt, berücksichtigt habe, wie sich dieser Sex auf andere Menschen auswirkte," he told Kelly. The admission marked his first direct response to mounting accusations, which include claims from women who worked with him in television.
The actor framed his actions as a product of fame-driven power dynamics. "Tatsächlich wurde die Zustimmung gelenkt. Das ist es, was Berühmtheit und Charisma einem ermöglichen," he said, acknowledging that his celebrity status influenced consent. He described his younger self as "immature" and "a completely different person," but stopped short of apologizing for specific incidents.