JK Rowling addresses Russell Brand rape conviction as she slams actor and comedian’s supporters

The charges related to accusations made by six women, covering a period from 1999 to 2009. Brand entered not guilty pleas to all seven counts.

Following the verdict, Brand’s former employers at the BBC and Channel 4 were just two prominent voices to pay tribute to his victims, saying the result was a testament to their bravery. However, Brand’s supporters have maintained their spot by his side.

As Brand was driven away from Southwark Crown Court, some fans in attendance branded Brand a “warrior” and told him “God is with you”.

The support spilled onto social media too, catching the eye of author Ms Rowling, who firmly rebuked claims that she deemed absolved Brand of wrongdoing.

The Harry Potter author, 61, fumed on X: “I don’t want to shame any particular woman here, but publicly announcing that the #RussellBrand conviction must be wrong because you went home with him and he didn’t rape you makes about as much sense as saying ‘well, I left 25 Cromwell Street alive, so Fred West’s innocent.'”

The writer was referring to the Gloucestershire address where West carried out a number of his at least 12 murders between 1967 and 1987.

Ms Rowling, who has courted significant controversy in recent years over her views on trans rights, received widespread support for this particular intervention.

Brand’s conviction came on Thursday at Southwark Crown Court, where a panel of eight men and four women returned their verdicts following roughly eight and a half hours of deliberation across several days.

Prosecutors had characterised him during the three-week trial as a “ruthless, calculated and manipulative sexual predator.” He attended every day of proceedings accompanied by his wife, Laura Brand, and members of his entourage.

The jury determined that Brand had groped a woman’s breasts at a party in a Soho bar during the summer of 2004, when the victim was working for MTV. He was also convicted of sexually assaulting another woman at London radio station Choice FM in either 2004 or 2005.

The most serious offence for which he was found guilty was the rape of a young fan at his Hampstead home in 2009, after the pair had met at one of his performances in West London.

The initial allegations against Brand first came to light through a joint investigation published in 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme.

Brand had consistently maintained he had never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity.

Several users on X voiced their agreement with Ms Rowling’s assessment. “There is a level of insanity around the supporters of Rapist Russell Brand which is difficult to fathom and stomach,” one responded.

A second wrote: “Brand has been found guilty and so many people are defending him, including women! I cannot fathom it!!”

The Metropolitan Police also issued a statement following the guilty verdicts, with Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy saying Brand had exploited his “influence, status and fame” to commit sexual offences against women.

As his public profile expanded, Mr Furphy said, so did his sense of entitlement. He expressed hope that the conviction would “send a clear message that no one is above the law, no matter how famous or powerful they may be.”

Brand showed no visible reaction as the verdicts were read out, though his wife Ms Gallacher appeared visibly distressed, sinking in her seat and rushing from the courtroom.

The defence team requested that Brand be permitted to bid farewell to his children before being taken into custody, but Judge Joel Bennathan denied the application.

While acknowledging the hardship involved, the judge noted that Brand bore responsibility for his circumstances.

Mr Bennathan remanded Brand in custody and scheduled sentencing for Monday morning, cautioning that the outcome would “inevitably” be a “significant custodial term.”

Beyond the offences for which he has already been convicted, the Metropolitan Police confirmed to Sky News that it is actively investigating further rape allegations made against Brand by two additional women.