“I hope my ex isn’t here. He should be in jail,” Katy Perry told an audience in Oxfordshire on July 1, months before a London court convicted Russell Brand of rape and sexual assault.
The comment, delivered during an interactive game where fans were asked to react to seeing an ex-partner, has gained new prominence following Brand’s sentencing on November 9.
The 51-year-old comedian received a 10-year and six-month prison sentence for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. While Brand was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault, he will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.
Perry and Brand Met and Married in 2010
Perry and Brand first met in 2009 while the comedian was working on the film “Get Him to the Greek,” in which the singer appeared for a cameo. Their relationship progressed rapidly, leading to an engagement in January 2010. They married in a Hindu ceremony in India in October of that same year, but the marriage was famously short-lived, lasting only about 14 months.
The dissolution of the union occurred on New Year’s Eve in 2011, when Brand informed the singer he wanted a divorce via a text message. This moment was captured in the 2012 documentary film “Katy Perry: Part of Me,” which showed the singer sobbing uncontrollably backstage while being consoled by staff members. Their divorce was finalized in 2012.
In a 2013 interview with Vogue, Perry provided further insight into the relationship, describing Brand’s behavior as “very controlling.” She explained that he struggled with her professional responsibilities and her position of authority while she was touring. “He didn’t like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting,” she said.
She also recalled an instance where she attempted to surprise him at one of his shows, only to find him making jokes about her to the audience.
Perry told Vogue that she initially felt a great deal of responsibility for the marriage ending, but that changed once she learned “the real truth.” She said that she kept this information “locked in my safe for a rainy day.” She concluded, “I let go, and I was like: This isn’t because of me, this is beyond me. So I have moved on from that.”
Prosecutors Omitted the Singer's Name from Opening Statements
During the legal process, the prosecution’s handling of the singer’s name became a point of contention. Although prosecutors initially intended to reference Brand’s marriage to the pop star in their opening statements, her name was omitted after Brand’s legal team objected.
Lead prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC noted in pre-trial submissions that the prosecution recognized matters involving the marriage “may be sensitive,” and thus they were content to remove these references from the opening. The defense argued that the relationship, which occurred post-2009, was irrelevant to the specific allegations being tried.
The judge had previously denied Brand’s request for bail, stating that the nature of the convictions required a long prison sentence. Beyond the trial, the Metropolitan Police confirmed on November 10 that multiple individuals have contacted investigators with further information or potential criminal allegations against the comedian, which are currently being assessed by detectives.
Former Partners Speak Out About Experiences with Brand
Other former partners have also spoken out regarding their experiences with Brand. Jemima Goldsmith, who dated the entertainer after his split from Perry, issued a statement on November 9 alleging that she experienced violence, coercive control, and abuse during their relationship.
She revealed that she had called the police to her home during an altercation in 2014 but chose not to pursue formal charges at the time to avoid negative media attention on her children.
Industry reports suggest that Perry may be preparing to share more details about her own history with the entertainer. While she had reportedly received multiple offers to tell her story over the years, she remained unwilling to proceed until after the legal proceedings had concluded.
Brand, who married Laura Gallacher in 2017 and shares three children with her, remains behind bars. He has maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual. He said in an April 2025 video that he was a “drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile.” He must serve two-thirds of his 10-year and six-month sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Earlier coverage: Russell Brand Convicted of Rape and Three Counts of Sexual Assault
