Minutes after a British jury convicted Russell Brand of rape and sexual assault, Megyn Kelly called the verdict shocking, declaring she "doesn't have to believe them just because the jury came through with the opposite conclusion." She called Brand an "obvious conservative stalwart" targeted unfairly. Elon Musk also defended Brand on X, calling the charges an example of "a crazy legal standard," noting England has no statute of limitations for these crimes.
Brand, a former comedy and movie star with over 6.6 million YouTube subscribers, has become an anti-establishment figure for some Americans. His videos often feature commentators like Tucker Carlson, Ben Shapiro, and Candace Owens. Despite being found not guilty of two other rape counts and one attempted indecent assault count, a judge sentenced him to 10.5 years in prison. The conviction stemmed from incidents over a decade old, including one involving non-consensual anal sex.
Since the verdict, supporters have claimed the case was politically motivated. Ryan Samuels called the ruling a "shameful display of justice" due to lack of forensic evidence. Brand's shift from a 2014 BBC "Newsnight" appearance advocating socialism to right-wing commentary has drawn attention. Researchers note his videos target Americans who believe elites control society. Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson have previously echoed Brand's claims of media persecution.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing