Russell Brand claims friends 'wouldn't touch him with barge pole' after documentary accusing him of rape

Russell Brand claims friends 'wouldn't touch him with barge pole' after documentary accusing him of rape The former comedian has addressed Southwark Crown Court from the witness box during his trial for rape and sexual assault charges spanning 10 years - allegations which he denies. Russell Brand has claimed he suffered "devastating" consequences after being accused of rape and sexual misconduct by several media outlets in 2023, admitting that friends and colleagues he had worked with for over 20 years 'would not touch him with a barge pole' afterwards. Asked by his barrister Ian Winter KC whether he had been able to convince people with evidence relevant to his defence to speak on his behalf, he said a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and reporting by The Sunday Times and Times accusing him of sexual misconduct had "devastating" consequences. Asking about the 2023 documentary, Mr Winter asked: "What is the effect of that documentary on all of your friends and colleagues and people who had worked with you over 24 or 25 years? Brand replied: "It was devastating." Mr Winter asked: "Were you able to persuade a single person with relevant evidence to give to come to give evidence on your behalf?" Brand replied: "I have not." Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one allegation of indecent assault, relating to six women between 1999 and 2009. The barrister continued: "Would they touch you with a barge pole?", and Brand replied: "No." The court also heard that Brand was blocked from visiting his sick son in hospital because of the rape and sexual assault allegations against him. Brand said the claims had "consumed" his whole life after he entered the witness box just after 10am on Wednesday and took the oath in a clear and deliberate voice. Wearing a blue suit and white shirt, he projected loudly: "I swear by almighty God that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." He later told the court that he had been banned from Great Ormond Street Hospital to be with his sick baby son after he had been publicly accused of rape. He told the court: "The reason given by Great Ormond Street Hospital when my son was receiving open heart surgery and subsequent treatment was due to the material published." He said he was told "they had to bar my attendance and presence." Adding: "They were unclear about what particular legal reason there was, but that was the reason they gave to my wife Laura and I." Brand had earlier denied each of the six charges against him when asked if he had committed the alleged offences by Winter. Asked if he could remember the complainants in November 2023 to January 2024, he said: "No." Questioned as to whether he is now "able to remember some of the events in respect of those six", he said: "Yes." Mr Winter KC asked what has changed, to which Brand said there has been a "variety of new information regarding each of the complainants, including video interviews, visits, or one particular specific visit to a location of an alleged event". Brand said: "I have looked at personal artefacts such as in the example of Bournemouth, a flyer." Mr Winter KC asked: "How much work and time have you spent trying to recollect these allegations?" Brand said: "My entire life has been consumed by these events, these allegations, these accusations. The impact of these allegations and accusations I have devoted myself to these matters." Brand was asked if, by 2009, he was "really famous", to which he replied that he was. Mr Winter then asked the defendant if he married "popular music singer" Katy Perry, with Brand responding: "Yes I did", adding he met her "whenever the VMA awards" were. Addressing his marriage to Ms Perry, Mr Winter asked Brand: "Did that bring about a sea of change in your life." After replying that it did, Mr Winter said: "Just in two words, how did it change?" Brand replied loudly: "Staggering fame." The trial continues.