Why Russell Brand, Katy Perry Marriage Was Not Mentioned in Rape Trial

Russell Brand Found Guilty of Rape, 3 Counts of Sexual Assault

Katy Perry’s history with Russell Brand was not included in his rape trial.

After the disgraced comedian was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault in London’s Southwark Crown Court, the prosecution confirmed why Brand’s 14-month marriage to Perry in 2010 was not part of their opening arguments. 

“The prosecution recognize that matters post 2009 involving his relationship with Katy Perry may be sensitive,” lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC said in a pre-trial submissions statement, per The Telegraph, “as may his previous faiths, and we are content to remove these from the opening.”

Similarly, the “Teenage Dream” singer—now mom to a 6-year-old daughter with ex Orlando Bloom—was not asked to provide any kind of witness statement during the police investigation into Brand.  

While Perry was not involved in the investigation or trial—which included allegations of events that occurred between 2004 and 2009, the same year Brand and Perry started dating—in any way, Brand briefly mentioned his relationship to the Grammy nominee while testifying during the trail, sharing how he achieved “staggering fame” at that time in his life.

Following the guilty verdict, the Forgetting Sarah Marshall alum—who was cleared of two separate counts of rape as well as one count of indecent assault—was told by presiding judge Joel Bennathan that he plans to sentence the actor to “significant custodial time,” while also denying him bail. Brand’s sentencing is set to take place on Monday, Nov. 9. 

E! News reached out to Brand’s attorneys for comment, as well as his and Perry’s representatives, but has not yet heard back.

In the years since his marriage to Perry, Brand—father to three kids with wife Laura Brand—has reemerged in the public eye as a right-winged Christian influencer. And he has acknowledged his faith while denying the allegations against him. 

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

“I pray Lord, anyone that I’ve harmed or hurt in my years of mindlessness and sin would be healed, Lord,” he said in a 2025 video shared to social media. “And I pray, Lord, for the absolute truth of who I am to be abundantly revealed.”

For her part, Perry has been extremely open with the emotional toll her relationship with Brand took on her following their divorce being finalized in 2012. 

"My self-worth was in someone else's hands, which is never a good idea, because it can be taken from you at any time," she told The Sunday Times at the time. "And it was, and it was shattered. But I don't do that anymore.”

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