Russell Brand Admits Sex With 16-Year-Old as U.K. Rape Trial Looms
Brand told Megyn Kelly he slept with a 16-year-old when he was 30 and called it exploitative; he faces multiple U.K. rape and sexual assault charges and a trial set Oct. 12, 2026.
Los Angeles TimesRussell Brand, awaiting trial on rape and sexual assault charges, admits to sex with 16-year-old girl in 2000s
Washington TimesRussell Brand admits to ‘exploitative’ sex with 16-year-old amid rape trial
Daily CallerRussell Brand Admits To Having Sex With 16-Year-Old Amid Rape Trial
Breitbart NewsWatch: Russell Brand Says Sleeping with 16-Year-Old Girl at Age 30 was ‘Exploitative’
Overview
Russell Brand told Megyn Kelly on a show published April 22 that he slept with a 16-year-old when he was 30 and described the encounter as "exploitative."
The admission comes as Brand faces multiple rape and sexual assault allegations arising from incidents reported between 1999 and 2009, according to reporting and police announcements.
Brand said his past conduct was "selfish" and an "exploiter of women," but he has pleaded not guilty to the criminal allegations and the Metropolitan Police authorized charges in April 2025.
Sources describe roughly four to six accusers and between five and seven charges, including counts described as rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.
His trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 12, 2026 at Southwark Crown Court and is expected to last about two months, according to reporting.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an accountability narrative that foregrounds Brand’s admission and alleged exploitative behavior. They use evaluative verbs like "admits" and "coming clean," prioritize power-differential and legal-context descriptions, and juxtapose his faith/rehab image with allegations, producing a skeptical, consequences-focused frame.