Media ultimately exposed Russell Brand – but his fame and celebrity added to victims’ trauma

By Lindsey Blumell, Lecturer in Journalism, City St George's, University of London

After years of caution, journalists can now exchange the word “alleged” for “convicted” when describing Russell Brand as a sexual predator. Following a four-week trial, where six women testified in detail, the former comedian was jailed for ten years and six months for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was cleared of two further counts of rape and one of attempted indecent assault.

When sentencing Brand, Justice Joel Bennathan emphasised the women’s…

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