Katherine Ryan says she is experiencing both “grief and relief” after Russell Brand was convicted of rape and faces a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years.
The Canadian-born comedian, 43, said many women were discussing Brand’s conduct “privately and quietly” following the verdict, describing their feelings as a “very nuanced mix of emotions”.
She also took aim at Brand’s latest career as a Christian podcaster, quipping: “I don’t know if you can podcast from jail. I hope not.”
Ryan was among the first high-profile figures to raise public concerns about Brand’s sexual behaviour. She was also the first celebrity known to confront him directly, doing so nearly a decade ago.
The pair served as judges on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018. During filming, Ryan repeatedly described Brand as a “sexual predator”, but the remarks were removed before broadcast. Brand left the programme after appearing in six episodes.
Ryan revisited the subject in 2022 during an interview with Louis Theroux, saying she knew of a “predator” in the entertainment industry whose identity was an “open secret”.
Although she declined to name the comedian, saying doing so would create a “litigious minefield”, Ryan said she had called the man a “predator” to his face. Her comments prompted widespread speculation that she was referring to Brand.
In 2023, as several women publicly accused Brand of rape, sexual abuse and degrading behaviour, Ryan made another pointed remark at a Royal Television Society event. She referred to an “elephant in the room” before saying she was joking about her own weight.
Weeks later, during an appearance on Desert Island Discs, she described a “dangerous comic” working in British showbusiness and said she had made her views clear to him “in no uncertain terms”.
Discussing Brand’s convictions on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, Ryan said the verdict left her feeling “dysregulated”, emotional and “in awe” of the survivors, whom she said had nothing to gain by coming forward.
“They came forward despite Russell Brand having fame, power, money and a legion of fans ready to attack them,” she said.
Comedian Katherine Ryan says she feels “grief and relief” after Russell Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault. The pair are pictured appearing together on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018, where footage of Ryan confronting Brand was cut
Ryan added that she would never “dance on graves”, but said the verdict represented a measure of justice and brought some relief, even as it was accompanied by grief.
“Everything’s nuanced, and it was proved in court that a terrible thing happened, and that means that a terrible thing happened,” she said.
She said she continued to think about the people who had been hurt and who would have to live with the consequences, regardless of the outcome of the legal process.
“This verdict came because women were hurt, and I worry as well about what happens next,” Ryan said.
She accused Brand of spending years fostering the belief that the establishment had fabricated the allegations against him, portraying himself as a martyr to an expanding audience.
Ryan said some of Brand’s supporters still appeared to view the survivors as the villains, before repeating: “I don’t know if you can podcast from jail. I hope not.”
She went on to say that many women were speaking among themselves after the verdict in the same private, cautious way they had learned to use “to avoid being attacked and to keep each other safe”.
Ryan also criticised the conduct of Brand’s barrister, Ian Winter KC, who confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin outside court.
Urwin’s investigation helped prompt Brand’s accusers to come forward. Winter reportedly told her: “I hope you are pleased with yourself.”
READ MORE: John Jay Rockefeller, Heir to Rockefeller Dynasty, Dies at 89
Urwin replied that she was pleased justice had been done. Winter then responded: “Well, it wasn’t. You f***** it.”
“Congratulations,” he added.
Ryan described the exchange as “so unprofessional, so inappropriate, so aggressive” and “really sickening”.
During the trial, Winter argued that coverage of the allegations by Urwin and others had “poisoned the well”, making it impossible for Brand to receive a fair hearing.
However, the trial judge, Mr Justice Bennathan, rejected Brand’s attempt to prevent the case from proceeding on the grounds that the media coverage had been negative.
The comedian later appeared on stage at RTS Cambridge, where she referred to an “elephant in the room” hours after women publicly accused Brand of abuse
Our News Outlet previously reported that Ryan repeatedly made on-camera allegations during the filming of Roast Battle, claiming Brand had sexually assaulted women.
According to Deadline, those comments were removed from the broadcast version.
A source told the publication that Brand was “absolutely furious” after Ryan targeted him on the programme.
Ryan’s alleged confrontations appeared to reflect wider discussions among comedians about claims concerning Brand’s sexual and predatory behaviour.
Two further sources claimed Brand had asked producers to shield him from similar comments by other panellists. He went on to appear in one series of Roast Battle.
Ryan has also said she once told another comedian that he was a sexual predator and that allegations against him were an “open secret”.
Speaking to Louis Theroux, the comedian and writer said she confronted the unnamed man repeatedly in front of an audience while they were working together on a television programme.
Ryan said she was criticised for not publicly identifying him, but explained that even discussing the allegations presented a “litigious minefield” because the man had “very good lawyers”.
She said it was “not my story to tell”, while adding that she believed the allegations because the sources were “very credible”.
Ryan made similar comments during her 2023 appearance on Desert Island Discs.
On the BBC Radio 4 programme, she said she had wrestled with whether to work alongside “someone who I believe to be a perpetrator of sexual assault” or reject professional opportunities.
The interview was recorded before the allegations against Brand became public. Ryan told presenter Lauren Laverne that, although she believed the unnamed individual “is or was dangerous”, she was prepared to appear on a programme with him.
She said her compromise was to take part while making clear to the comedian “in no uncertain terms” what she thought of him.
Ryan said she saw little reaction from the man, although other comedians who knew about his reputation “really liked what I said”.
Brand now faces years in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
