Russell Brand has admitted he slept with a 16-year-old when he was 30, and now describes the encounter as “exploitative”.
Russell Brand has revealed he slept with a 16 year old when he was 30.
The British comedian, now 50, has opened up about a past sexual encounter which he claimed was “consensual” while admitting he would now see the situation as “exploitative” given his fame.
Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, he said: “The plain fact of it is, in Europe and in the United Kingdom, where I’m from, the age of consent is 16. And I did sleep with a 16 yea -old when I was 30. “But when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30 year old.
“Consensual sex, actually, with a variety of people when there is a strong power differential, because there is when you’re a famous man that has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation.”
Brand – who has appeared in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek – described his past actions as “selfish” and noted he didn’t have much consideration for their impact.
He added: “I think it is exploitative. I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I did not apply enough consideration, barely any, I suppose, really, to how that sex was affecting other people.”
Meanwhile, Brand has continued to deny separate sexual assault allegations made against him last year.
In April 2025, he was charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, in relation to alleged offences involving four women between 1999 and 2005, but after fresh charges were brought in January, one count of rape and one of sexual assault against two women in 2009.
The actor, who has denied the allegations against him, had been due in court on June 16, but his trial has been postponed until October 12, when the matter is expected to last two months.
According to Sky News, the judge, Mr. Justice Bennathan, said if the trial began in June as planned, the court may run out of time to hear it and would struggle to find jurors who could sit through the start of the summer holidays.
Brand – who is a father to three children with his wife Laura Gallacher – previously spoke out to deny the allegations against him when he was first charged by the Metropolitan Police last year.
In a video statement which was posted on social media, he said: “I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family … I was a fool, man.
“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist.
“I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
Brand added: “Of course, I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court. And I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
Russell Brand reveals he slept with 16 year old when he was 30
