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Inside story of the day Russell Brand’s then-girlfriend Jemima Goldsmith hired him a £500 ‘full-figured’ masseuse… who was later hit by a draconian gagging order
Jemima Goldsmith hired Hungarian masseuse Szilvia Berki to travel to the Cotswolds in 2014 and give Russell Brand a birthday massage. A dispute followed, leading to competing allegations of physical abuse and racial harassment, a police investigation and years of legal action. The case has resurfaced amid scrutiny of Brand’s use of lawyers to keep incidents out of public view, and after his recent conviction for rape and sexual assault.
Berki was reportedly paid £500 and driven from Wimbledon for the appointment, after Goldsmith could not find a local therapist with availability. Both Brand and Goldsmith have denied Berki’s allegations. A High Court injunction barred Berki from discussing her account, including with detectives; Goldsmith has said she is willing to vary it so Berki can speak to police and possibly the press.
In short
- Goldsmith arranged a £500 birthday massage for Brand in 2014.
- A dispute led to allegations, a police inquiry and years of litigation.
- A High Court order prevented the masseuse from discussing her account.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A court order can protect people from untested allegations causing lasting reputational harm, and the competing accounts in this dispute make caution understandable. Those who defend the injunction may argue that limits on publication were a proportionate way to manage a private legal dispute while evidence was assessed.
The case against
A gagging order that prevents an alleged victim from speaking even to detectives risks obstructing a police investigation and shielding powerful people from scrutiny. Those seeking to lift it can argue that the public interest in investigating serious allegations, especially amid wider scrutiny of Brand’s conduct, outweighs the case for keeping Berki silent.