Katy Perry: Russell Brand Sentenced to 10.5 Years in Prison
Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. The conviction has renewed scrutiny of his marriage to Katy Perry, including the moment he ended it by text.
Russell Brand has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault, bringing renewed attention to his marriage to Katy Perry and its abrupt end by text. Brand was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Perry’s 2012 tour documentary, Part of Me, captured her receiving a message from Brand, her husband of just over a year, telling her their marriage was over. She was due to perform that night before thousands of fans.
One member of Perry’s team urged her, “You can cancel the show, or you can do your best.” Perry chose to perform. The documentary showed her preparing to go onstage while visibly upset.
Footage draws fresh attention
Footage of the couple arriving at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in 2010 circulated online over the weekend. They had been dating for only a few months, and the clip has prompted renewed discussion of their public dynamic.
A reporter asked Perry for her thoughts on the Academy Awards ceremony. Brand held up and tapped a badge reading “Obey”; Perry then fell silent, and the reporter heard Brand’s views instead.
Prosecutors initially sought to refer to Perry while opening the case, as part of the background to the trial. Those references were removed after submissions from Brand’s legal team.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Perry was not asked for a witness statement during the investigation. Perry is now in a relationship with Justin Trudeau, Canada’s former prime minister. Brand has been married to author Laura Gallacher since 2017; they have three children.
Earlier comments resurface
Perry and Brand first crossed paths in the summer of 2009, when Perry recorded a cameo in Get Him to the Greek. They met again a few months later at the MTV Video Music Awards, where Brand was hosting and Perry was performing.
Perry later described the end of the marriage in interviews, while one of her more recent public references came during a performance at Blenheim Festival earlier this year. “I hope my ex isn’t here. He should be in jail,” she told the crowd.
Representatives for Perry were contacted for further comment.
