Russell Brand thinks about going to prison ‘every day’ ahead of rape trial as he denies being a ‘grifter’
RUSSELL Brand has confessed he thinks about going to prison “every day” ahead of his rape trial and denies being a “grifter”.
The comedian and actor, 50, who now hosts a podcast is facing trial on three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault against six women from 1999 to 2009.
He denies all the charges against him.
The star, who wore a crucifix around his neck, talked at length with Piers Morgan on his YouTube show Uncensored.
Asked if he thought about the reality of going to jail if he was found guilty, Brand said: “Yes… all the time, every day.”
He added: “I will be with God wherever I am. And of course, I would prefer to be with God with my wife and my kids… I’m not saying that that’s not a difficult image, you know, and a difficult thing to contemplate, of course it is.”
Brand, who brought a Bible with him, continued: “We are going to find out the truth, and we’re going to deal with the truth.
“Because actually, I am not afraid of the truth and if the truth is I am going to prison, then I am. My job will be, do not be afraid of that truth, that is what you are going to do.”
The one-time Hollywood star claimed he would face being behind bars “with God” if he was found guilty of the charges against him.
He also strenuously defended his innocence.
Morgan put it to him that there were people who considered him “basically just a massive grifter”.
Brand immediately shot back: “No, that’s what they say about you.”
Morgan added: “You’re very eloquent, you can be very persuasive with the power of your words, but that actually when it comes to any of these issues, you don’t really have a personal principle.”
Brand said: “I do, I do.”
In an earlier interview for The Megyn Kelly Show podcast admitted he had sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30.
He said his relationships at the time were “exploitative” – but stressed his sex with the girl was legal.
Brand said: “In Europe and in the United Kingdom where I’m from, the age of consent is 16. And I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30.
“But when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger and I was an immature 30-year-old.”
Brand told host Megyn Kelly his relationships in the past were “selfish”.
He continued: “I did not apply enough consideration barely any I suppose really to how that sex was affecting other people.”
At the height of his fame, the actor starred in a number of Hollywood films, including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
His trial at Southwark Crown Court is due to start on October 12.