Donald Trump Jr. Defends Russell Brand After 10-Year Rape Sentence

Russell Brand, the 51-year-old comedian and actor, received a prison sentence of 10 years and six months earlier this week after a jury found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

The offenses involved four women and took place between 2004 and 2009, at the peak of his fame. A four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London ended with those convictions, though the jury cleared him of two additional rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand had denied every charge and insisted the encounters were consensual.

During sentencing, Judge Joel Bennathan labeled Brand a sexual predator and highlighted what he called staggering arrogance around the allegations. The judge told him that whatever women wear, wherever they go, and whatever they drink, they retain the right to say no and demand justice when sexual predators act without consent. He also noted Brand’s belief that celebrity status allowed him to act however he wanted, unhindered by the rules that apply to ordinary people. Two of the victims spoke publicly through a Metropolitan Police statement, with one saying she was grateful for the support that helped her feel believed and another expressing eternal thanks that her voice was finally heard.

Brand is expected to serve the sentence at HMP Wandsworth in London, though his final placement had not been officially confirmed as of Thursday. Under current rules he must serve two-thirds of the term in custody before becoming eligible for release on license, which could put that point around November 2033. He would then remain under supervision for the rest of the sentence, face possible electronic monitoring, and stay on the sex offenders’ register for life. Further police investigations into additional allegations are ongoing, and the original claims first surfaced in 2023 through reporting by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches.

While many distanced themselves after the allegations and conviction, Donald Trump Jr. broke his silence on his Rumble show Triggered. Brand, who was baptized in 2024 and has spoken openly about his Christian faith, grew close to Trump Jr. after moving to Florida.

On the program Trump Jr. said no one had a problem with Brand when he was married to Katy Perry and one of the most famous actors in the world. He argued that Brand was now facing more than a decade in prison for rape on decades-old allegations with no forensic evidence, no DNA, and no police report from the time, after finding God, changing his ways, and discussing aspects of conservative life. Trump Jr. called the British system two-tier and suggested the sentence was harsher than those given to others in high-profile UK cases.