Russell Brand 🤢🤮 in the Docky Wock

[U53rName]

Credit to @thebrowncatisback for the title. Original thread is here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/in_the_news/5589048-russell-brand?callback=in&code=YTEWYJJJMZQTMJFHNS0ZNDI5LTK3N2QTZWJHYWNHZJGXNZA2&page=39&state=aa7521b41da5458084d85ced7c73c27d

I believe he will get away with it, unfortunately. Why? Long precedent. Powerful wealthy men usually do, as society is far more comfortable with the idea that women are liars than men predators. As for Megyn Kelly’s input, all I will say is that this doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

To me, some of the evidence surrounding the more serious counts, especially those documenting medical treatment, sound compelling and the case for the defence seemed surprisingly weak.

Nonetheless, I’m not holding out much expectation that the next thread title will be ‘Russell Brand in the Clinky Wink’.

I agree they often do, but do you really think Russell Brand is "powerful" in the UK these days? He couldn't get anyone to back him up in court except his wife. His undoubtedly expensive lead KC is an expert in financial crime and fraud, not accusations of sexual assault and rape. And the defence hasn't exactly been top notch.

So while I am not convinced that he'll be convicted of all charges, I have hope that he will be for some. He's not exactly popular with the British public these days, and that will doubtless include some of the men on the jury. I don't think it's going to be quite as clear cut as you fear. But I may be being overly positive (after all, there are still a hell of a lot of people about with outdated, ignorant and misogynist views on rape and consent).

She also said that the Cornell Uni Jane Doe was lucky to have had sexual attention from those 7 men because she was so unattractive.

I have been really interested in Laura’s situation since the initial charges came out.

I’ve been in a similar relationship dynamic with someone narcissistic and grandiose while I was the dutiful caring wife (no criminal charges or cheating in my case but similar otherwise).

I recognise a lot of her behaviour (fawning, always deferring to him etc).
I think a few things are keeping her with him

1. She has been told by him that she has saved him and shown him the true love and care that he was fruitlessly searching for when promiscuous and going from woman to woman. When he turns on the charm and expresses such things it must feel wonderful to her
2. They both have expressed multiple times on their podcast (I have listened to a lot of them because she interest me greatly given my own history) that spiritual warfare is real and the devil can work through people to attack Christians and turn them away from God/each other. I imagine she has come to believe that dark forces are using these women as vessels in a bid to destroy their family
3. ‘Us against the world’ or in this case ‘us against the devil’ is a powerful tool abusers like RB can use to keep people attached to them
4. RB has mentioned Laura being co-dependent (on the podcast without her her consent, interestingly enough!). That kind of personality can easily end up in a cult-like situation with a charismatic man to follow, and they’ll believe things he says even with all the evidence to the contrary staring them in the face

Having said all of that - I do think that she has moments of being embarrassed by him and getting the ick - her reaction when he randomly started speaking in tongues on the podcast (it’s a perfect example of the fact that he still can’t help self-aggrandising and being the most extreme example of whichever persona he’s currently inhabiting) was a good example of that. It was very subtle but you could tell it was a bit embarrassing for her.

Unfortunately I think that in the short term at least this court case will shore up her doubts and keep her even closer to him.
I suspect they compare his ‘plight’ to that of Jesus, with the betrayals by friends and sham trial. So sadly even if he is convicted I think she will see him as a Christ-like figure who has been deeply wronged.

I won’t be surprised if he says something like ‘forgive them for they know not what they do’. It makes me think that on some level this all would be great for his ego.

This is very well written and I agree wholeheartedly. There are much deeper complexities involved with Laura than a simple case of a wife standing by her husband. She needs professional support but I suspect she won't access this as she is in denial phase.

I work in mental health and I have studied Brand for a long time now. I see very clear signs of serious mental illness. Symptoms of different illnesses overlap hence rigorous expert assessment is vital, however I will say that I do see signs of Schizophrenia in him.

Well the opinion on here and other forums are also just as easily obtained as X.
I’m surprised MN does allow threads discusding any legal cases before they are decided. They must be confident that RB would not bother suing them.

Good God

I can't argue with you, we both may be right.
At the moment, the us against the world vibe is strong.
If he is found innocent what then?
Maybe that's when the ick will kick in.

If they do manage to return to cosy domesticity, I can imagine he's still going to be friendless and diminished in status.
People aren't daft, we know this may be a cause of not proven rather than innocent.

Maybe when there's time to reflect.

I don't mean to diss her for this but she was attracted to Brand, she likes his type.

A lot of that 'Brand' has gone now.
He's boring now.

All I'm saying is that her leaving him may not be because she's somehow managed to break free of his 'spell' it may be more mundane.
He's boring and he gives her the ick.

What's that old trope about him not being the man I married?

I should add that I'm aware that I don't mean 'not proven' in capital letters.
I know that verdict can't be given in England and Wales.
I mean not proven as in well we can't can't be sure.

ETA I have just read that not proven is not in Scotland any more, either. Everyday's a school day. 😁

Not proven used to be a valid verdict in Scotland, but not any more (as of beginning of the year)

https://www.gov.scot/news/abolition-of-not-proven-verdict/

Good point a juror could Google this thread? Yes, they shouldn't but with VPNs etc. I can't realistically see how a court would find out. Maybe this is just a factor in justice in 2026.

Thanks for reading :). It is so interesting what you have observed from your professional point of view - makes a lot of sense.

@Tweedia this is an interesting perspective, thank you.

@Tweediai recognise and agree with a lot of that. I was in a relationship with a narcissist as well, who cheated on me endlessly and other offences, and gas lit me about all of it. There are so many personality similarities. They even have the same sort of psychopath eyes, friends of mine have commented on it. So likewise, I can put myself in her shoes and agree he will absolutely be relying on “us v them” (in his videos he also refers to the trial in the collective like “our” trial, “we” etc) and also on the idea that she has saved him, she was always the one, she has brought him home, blah blah. The reality is they never change they only adapt. He’s exploiting her terribly eg the “how is Laura coping” video (I think these are all deleted now). I think she is still in true believer stage and will be defending him more than he’ll even defend himself. She might never escape - she’s so deep in.

For me, a key breaking point was finding out something terrible my ex had done to another girl. Ultimately I had a limit. I’m not sure what Laura’s limit can be?

One thing I found interesting - she testified that their relationship is based on “honesty”. I can guarantee it is not - there will be plenty she doesn’t know. So that’s a big fall waiting for her. Then again, when the narcissist gets found out they always turn it to their advantage eg return to the whole “but you’ve saved me” thing. It’s very very hard to escape. It’s mentally torture. Mine was simultaneously the “best” (lovebombed) and worst experience of my life - overall, worst - and breaking out of it nearly killed me. I had no friends or family to support me, family never really cared (psycho ex probably smelt that a mile off, they always know who to target) and friends had been spooked by him long before. I hope to god she has family around her trying to coax her out of this. Based on the little Kirsty has said about him though, I doubt it.

…maybe she is actually a controlled person?
If he’s done a particularly good job on her, why else would she come out with the undetailed cotton wool in ‘her’ court statement.

Regarding the us against the world idea

If this is true, and he's found innocent then I imagine there'll be euphoria for a while.
It won't last.
Having experienced this euphoria, she may want more of the same feeling but realistically what can Brand possibly do to top this?
I can't imagine there being much in the way of us against the world stuff he can conjure up after this.

Everything is going to be pretty mundane from that point.

That’s what happened to OJ Simpson. When he was found not guilty of murdering his wife and her friend, he went back to the golf club expecting business as usual, but everyone shunned him.

I can’t be bothered to google but who was he when they got back together? Did she marry high energy, sex addicted Brand or did she marry slightly weird anti establishment religious Brand?

Yes and arguably he was a bigger star than Brand - in The States at least.

Brand just fitted in with the era he was in.
I think that a lot of his so-called male friends basked in his reflective glory of being a stud.

I do hope theyre not as stupid to still think he's successful with women.

Either because he's a rapist or IF they are making it up (I DON'T think that they are) well he's crap at managing their expectations of him, isn't he?
If the allegations are borne out of some rejection revenge fantasy, that is- as some claim.

I believe it was the new age, ‘enlightened’ Brand. In a 12 step program for recovery from ego addiction, learning from revered spiritual philosophers etc etc

This is a really good point. I think that it could definitely go that way.

The only other aspect I think that could change the dynamic again is the children. That complicates things.

I keep thinking about the documentary about the FLDS Trust Me: False Prophet
Some of the women woke up and realised how they had been manipulated and abused by Sam their ‘husband’. I noticed that the women who had children with him remained brainwashed. Quite interesting to see how much harder it is when you feel ‘tied’ to them when kids are involved (though in reality of course it ought to be an even bigger reason to leave)

If they do manage to return to cosy domesticity, I can imagine he's still going to be friendless and diminished in status.

He can always slither over to America though. I know that @U53rName referenced OJ Simpson being shunned at the golf club etc but America is going through some weird stuff right now so the reaction might not be the same. He could try to slot into a "victim of European/woke culture" niche and continue his Christian prophet persona over there. There's definitely a market for that (see Meghan Kelly) and a big group of right wing "free thinkers" who all think along the same lines. To be fair, this is basically a mirror image of the lefty feminist persona he had before. He's quite good at fitting his personas to the most advantageous for the time. The only downside is he'd be a small fish in a big pond over there.

Yes, I think his most recent relationship before Laura was Jemimah Khan which was the year before. They had the masseuse scandal and the Sophie Coady scandal... (latter was apparently libel though I think he did admit sleeping with her). But he was being lauded by the guardian, established himself as a political figure and was an “influential thinker” blah blah.

For me, a key breaking point was finding out something terrible my ex had done to another girl. Ultimately I had a limit. I’m not sure what Laura’s limit can be?
Having sat in court day after day after day listening to the horrifying trauma from the victims and taking notes on what they have said so that she remembers the details, whilst still, just 2 days ago, maintaining her display of devotion, support and solidarity by walking in to court holding his hand tightly and wearing her hair in the same style as his, I would say Laura doesn't have any limits.

I'm not challenging you at all here, but don't forget he won't be found innocent. He will only be found not guilty. The two, in terms of law, are very different things which are important to distinguish.
I'm picking up on this because I don't want to see the internet awash with "Brand is innocent" when he is found not guilty. He isn't innocent and he never will be.