British comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison following his conviction for sexual assault, after being found guilty of questioning one woman in 2009 and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009.
The presiding judge Yoel Benathan condemned Brand as a sexual predator who took advantage of his celebrity, stating that he believes that "fame means you can behave as you like, when you like, without interference from the rules by which decent people live. ".
The conviction marks a dramatic collapse of a figure who once dominated British broadcasting and mainstream Hollywood media before undergoing a sharp political and ideological transformation.
Once known for exemplifying left-wing causes, Brand has built a new audience online with right-wing populist commentary.
By the time a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 was due to go public in September 2023, he had a ready platform for his response.