Russell Brand, 51, the British comedian and ex-husband of Katy Perry, has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison. Last week, he was found guilty of rape and sexual assault in incidents that date back to 2004, 2005, and 2009. He has denied all charges.
© Getty ImagesAt the sentencing today, Judge Joel Bennathan described Brand as a sexual predator” who had a “casual, arrogant disregard” for women’s wishes, as reported by The New York Times.
Last week, Brand was found guilty in a trial that documented his experiences with different women between the years 1999 to 2009, involving six different women. The trial ran for four weeks, with him supported by his wife, Laura Brand, throughout. He was also supported by his father Ron Brand, and by fans, who stood outside of the court to cheer him on.
Judge Bennathan said that the women's testimony showed that Brand believed “fame meant you could act how you liked, when you liked, unhindered by the rules by which decent people live.”
© Getty ImagesBrand's lawyer, Ian Winter, said that Brand was now "a fundamentally different person."
Following the verdict, Brand looked calm, turning to his wife and muttering, "We'll be okay," to her before being led away by court officials.
Brand's career and public persona
© Getty ImagesRussell Brand became famous during the aughts, known for his comedy and key jobs as a radio host and in films like "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek." Around this time, he began his relationship with Katy Perry, and the two married in December 2010.
The following year, the couple got an abrupt divorce, with him informing her via text. The moment was captured on Perry's documentary "Part of Me." The divorce was finalized in 2012.
"At first, when I met him, he wanted an equal, and I think a lot of times strong men do want an equal, but then they get that equal, and they're like, I can't handle the equalness. He didn't like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting," said Perry to Vogue after they announced their split.
"I felt a lot of responsibility for it ending, but then I found out the real truth, which I can't necessarily disclose because I keep it locked in my safe for a rainy day. I let go, and I was like: This isn't because of me; this is beyond me. So I have moved on from that."
© Getty Images
