Russell Brand Acknowledges Past Relationship with a Minor

British comedian and actor Russell Brand has come forward about a past encounter with a 16-year-old girl when he was 30, describing the situation as “exploitative.”

This revelation happened during an appearance on the Megyn Kelly Show, where Brand emphasized that the age of consent is 16 in the UK.

“Thank you, Megyn Kelly, for allowing me to address your concerns. Your anger is completely valid,” he remarked. “The reality is, in Europe and specifically in England, where I grew up, the legal age for sexual consent is 16. I was 30 years old at the time, but honestly, I was quite immature for my age.”

Brand further elaborated, “I believe that engaging in consensual relationships where there is a significant power imbalance—especially involving well-known figures who can easily attract partners—can indeed be considered exploitative. I recognize now that my past sexual conduct was often selfish, and I didn’t really think about how it impacted others.”

As noted by various sources, Brand is currently facing serious allegations, including charges of rape and “indecent assault and sexual assault” involving four women, with incidents reported between 1999 and 2005. There’s also been mention of additional charges regarding two other women stemming from incidents in 2009. He was supposed to begin his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London on June 16, but it has been postponed to October 12.

Brand has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.

He mentioned, “These allegations come from a time when I was quite prominent in the media, frequently appearing in newspapers and films. As I detailed in my book, I was living quite a reckless life. During those days, I always viewed my relationships as consensual, but I also acknowledge that I lacked transparency back then—though I strive to be open now.”