'Russell Brand’s fame gave him power – but his victims’ courage brought him down'

'Russell Brand’s fame gave him power – but his victims’ courage brought him down' Russell Brand, the former comedian, has today been convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others — offences dating back several years to the peak of his fame For the women Russell Brand attacked, his fame and fortune offered no glamour. They gave him power, influence and a sense of entitlement that helped him exploit those he believed he could abuse with impunity. A jury has now convicted Brand of raping one woman and sexually assaulting others. Behind those verdicts are real lives, violated trust and suffering that no prison sentence can erase. The greatest tragedy is what these women endured. The greatest courage is that they refused to let the celebrity of the man responsible silence them. They faced the ordeal of giving evidence against one of Britain's best-known entertainers, exposing deeply personal experiences to public scrutiny while knowing their accounts would be challenged in court. Their bravery deserves to be remembered long after Brand's celebrity has been forgotten. And their experiences raise profoundly uncomfortable questions. How many other women have felt powerless to challenge famous men because they feared nobody would believe them? How many have remained silent, convinced that wealth, influence and public adoration would outweigh their word? Brand is the latest celebrity convicted of serious sexual offences after enjoying the power and privileges of an entertainment industry that has too often tolerated behaviour ordinary people would never get away with. There must be serious questions about the cultures that allow powerful men to exploit their positions and leave women feeling unable to speak out. Further allegations against Brand are being examined. They remain unproven, just as the jury's acquittals on other charges must be respected. But his convictions already represent an appalling betrayal of the women he attacked. Brand now faces a substantial prison sentence. His reputation lies in ruins. Yet the lasting significance of this case should be the courage of those who helped bring him to justice. Every woman deserves to know that her safety matters more than any man's status, career or reputation. Brand had the fame, the money and the power. His victims had the courage to stand against him. And their voices finally prevailed.