Russell Brand admits sex was one of the main reasons he pursued fame

Russell Brand made the remarks days after being charged with with rape and sexual assault of four women.

Russell Brand, days after being charged with rape and sexual assault, said one of the main reasons he got into showbiz and pursued fame was to have “sex with anybody who wanted to.”

The 49-year-old actor shared why he “even bothered becoming famous” in the first place, but continued to deny the charges against him and said he never participated in nonconsensual sex.

“It’s difficult not to reflect that indeed, the people participating in this are victims of a type, but not victims of me because I’ve always been open,” he said in a video posted Monday to Rumble, according to Fox News. “You can go and watch my standup comedy. You can read my book. I couldn’t have been more clear that I was out there having sex with anybody who wanted to.

“And let me tell you, when you’re a famous guy, people are up for it.

“People are up for it! I’ve got to be honest here. That’s part of the reason I even bothered becoming famous in the first place, because I thought this will be a glorious opportunity for hedonistic adventure. Surely then, my life will mean something. Surely, I can find some value in the comfort of strangers. Surely, I can lose myself in endless pleasure.”

Last Friday, British police charged Brand with rape and sexual assault following an 18-month investigation sparked when four women alleged they had been assaulted by the controversial comedian.

The alleged offences involve four women and took place between 1999 and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and the other three in the Westminster area of central London.

In September 2023, British media outlets Channel 4 and the Sunday Times published claims by four women of being sexually assaulted or raped by Brand. The accusers have not been identified.