{
  "id": 18359080,
  "title": "Comedian Russell Brand found guilty of rape, sexual assault",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/comedian-russell-brand-found-guilty-of-rape-sexual-assault",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T18:59:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/comedian-russell-brand-found-guilty-of-rape-sexual-assault/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Comedian Russell Brand, once a prominent figure in Britain, faces jail time after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Prosecutors alleged that the 51-year-old, once married to US pop singer Katy Perry, was obsessed with sex and treated women like objects to fulfill his desires. The court heard testimony from six complainants, all of whom remained anonymous, describing Brand's maniacal demeanor during encounters. Former friend and former personal assistant both testified that Brand had an insatiable sexual appetite. Brand denied all charges, stating that the incidents were either consensual or re-imagined. He acknowledged his \"reckless philandering and idiocy\" but emphasized the importance of sexual consent. The jury found him guilty of three sexual assaults and one rape, while acquitting him of two other rape charges. The judge sentenced Brand to a lengthy prison term, with Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy stating that the conviction sends a clear message that no one is above the law.",
  "summary": "Prosecutors said Brand was obsessed with sex and used women to satisfy his own desires.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "The Russell Brand I saw in court was not the flamboyant character most people will know",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/the-russell-brand-i-saw-in-court-was-not-the-flamboyant-character",
        "published": "2026-11-05T14:37:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty of rape and three sexual assaults",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-of-rape-and-three-sexual-assaults",
        "published": "2026-11-05T14:53:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape, three sexual assaults, says UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-three-sexual-assaults-says-uk-court",
        "published": "2026-11-05T15:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Russell Brand: The rise and fall of a TV star",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-tv-star",
        "published": "2026-11-05T16:14:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape, three sexual assaults",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-three-sexual-assaults",
        "published": "2026-11-05T17:51:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Russell Brand guilty of rape and three sexual assaults",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-guilty-of-rape-and-three-sexual-assaults",
        "published": "2026-11-05T18:13:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty in UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-in-uk-court",
        "published": "2026-11-05T19:18:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Russell Brand found guilty in UK court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/russell-brand-found-guilty-in-uk-court-18359183",
        "published": "2026-11-05T19:18:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}