How Russell Brand’s Wife Laura Gallacher Stood by Him at Trial

Russell Brand arrived at court today alongside his publicity-shy wife, Laura Gallacher, who has supported him throughout his rape trial.

The 39-year-old “mummy blogger” was seen crying in the public gallery after the disgraced comedian was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.

Before the jury announced its verdicts, Brand, 51, turned to his wife and told her: “Laura, I love you.”

Gallacher is the daughter of Ryder Cup-winning golfer Bernard Gallacher and the sister of television presenter Kirsty Gallacher. She married Brand in 2017, and the couple have three children.

Earlier this week, Bernard Gallacher attended court alongside his daughter and son-in-law.

Laura has generally maintained a private life while standing by her husband. However, she recently stepped into the public eye as the couple began hosting their Christian YouTube programme five months ago.

Before the trial began, she told viewers that Sunday Service would continue during the proceedings.

“Pray for us if you feel so inclined,” Brand added. He currently has 6.61 million YouTube subscribers.

Speaking about the trial, he said: “Being back here [in the UK], obviously there are great challenges.

“We will do our best to respect the important restrictions that exist around court cases to ensure truth and justice can be done.”

Russell Brand and Laura Gallacher arrive at Southwark Crown Court in London today

Laura is the sister of broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher and daughter of golfer Bernard Gallacher, pictured left, who attended the trial to support his son-in-law

Brand closed his eyes as he was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan he met after one of his performances at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2009.

After deliberating for eight and a half hours, jurors found Brand guilty of groping an MTV employee at a party in a Soho bar in 2004. They cleared him of orally raping the woman in a toilet.

The jury also convicted the born-again Christian of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio employee after meeting her in a corridor in 2005.

At Southwark Crown Court today, Brand was additionally found guilty of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 employee during a forced massage in 2009.

He was acquitted of two rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.

Before the trial, Brand and Laura joked on their podcast that they had returned to the UK for a “vacation” before saying that “the Lord has brought us here”.

Brand introduced Gallacher as his “beloved wife”, while she acknowledged that she had felt nervous about accompanying him to court.

Laughing, he said: “We’re in the UK. Why is that? Just fancied a trip,” before adding more seriously: “The Lord has brought us here.”

Laura replied: “I think it’s a vacation, but yes, the Lord has brought us here.”

Brand continued: “I’m happy to be in the place where Jesus found me,” referring to the UK, where he embraced Christianity and was baptised in the River Thames.

Gallacher, who has remained at her husband’s side, said the couple intended to continue producing their podcast.

“Our aim is to carry on doing Sunday Service. More than ever, when you’re faced with times of challenge, you have to find your connection with God. Perhaps Sunday Service will be a journey in anchoring ourselves in faith and trust during difficult times,” she said.

Discussing their appearances at court before the trial, she added: “I got nervous before going to court. I’m not used to getting out of the car and seeing lots of photographers.”

Brand then said: “Pray for us if you feel so inclined, and let us know in the chat if there is something we can pray for you about.”

The couple closed their eyes as Brand said: “I thank you for my beautiful wife, this mystery woman in yellow, our glorious children and your son, Jesus Christ.”

The Brands returned to Britain after moving to the United States with their three children about three years ago.

For Laura Gallacher, a chance encounter on an east London canal towpath in 2015 marked a turning point in her life.

EXPLORE MORE: Philippine Police Extend Child Abuse Probe to Meghan Markle’s Son

The couple married two years later near Henley-on-Thames, with guests including Noel Gallagher and Jonathan Ross.

Brand has frequently spoken about how fortunate he feels to have Laura in his life, crediting her with helping him through difficult periods.

She is the youngest child of golfing great Bernard Gallacher, while her older sister, Kirsty, is a sports broadcaster.

The sisters grew up in Wentworth, Surrey, on one of Britain’s best-known exclusive private estates.

Russell Brand and wife Laura Gallacher are seen on January 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California

Gallacher, a “mummy blogger” and author of the parenting book The Joy Journal For Magical Everyday Play, has been described by friends as kind-hearted. Despite her high-profile family, she has generally preferred to remain away from public attention.

Apart from occasional appearances on Brand’s YouTube channel, she has kept a low profile and rarely attended red-carpet events.

She was 18 and studying art when she first met Brand, who shared an agent with her sister.

The pair briefly dated before eventually going their separate ways.

When they crossed paths again 11 years ago, Gallacher was recovering from the end of a long-term relationship.

She later recalled that a friend persuaded her to leave her flat for a walk along an east London canal, where she unexpectedly encountered Brand.

“I hadn’t seen Russell for years,” she said. “He was so different. We both immediately knew it was going to be serious.

“My ex had literally moved out of our flat that day, and I was heartbroken, with mascara running down my face.

“A friend dragged me out on a walk to the canal in east London, where I’d never been in my life, and as we came on to the footpath, Russell was standing there, like he’d organised it.”

Gallacher later said they shared a desire to build a quiet family life together.

Before relocating to the United States, the family lived in Oxfordshire.

Describing their relationship, she has said: “We really do have fun together.

“Sometimes, it can look like I’m dealing with an adult toddler, but Russell’s really into doing the stuff I’m into.”

Friends have described Gallacher as warm and fiercely determined to protect her family’s privacy.

She has also become a committed Christian but, until this year, largely avoided appearing on her husband’s online broadcasts.

She previously said of his content: “I don’t find it easy, and that’s why I don’t ever really want to be doing any of it.

“I have so many questions about it, and the exposure it inevitably leads to does expose you to a sort of dark energy.”

The couple launched their Sunday Service programme five months ago, with Brand thanking his wife for continuing to support him.

Smiling, she replied: “I must be crazy.”

Brand married pop star Katy Perry in 2010, but their marriage ended in divorce two years later.

He also built a successful Hollywood career, appearing in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the Despicable Me franchise.

In recent years, allegations concerning his treatment of women came under scrutiny after investigations by television broadcasters and newspapers. Police arrested him in 2023, by which point he had largely shifted his focus towards podcasting and spirituality.

Brand embraced Christianity in 2024 and was baptised in the River Thames alongside his friend Bear Grylls.