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BRYONY GORDON: The brave women who helped convict Russell Brand have allowed me to acknowledge the truth about my own experiences with him when I was 25
Bryony Gordon says reading the testimony of a woman who gave evidence at Russell Brand’s trial brought back memories of her own encounters with him when she was 25. She describes this as helping her recognise that she had been demeaned and manipulated, and says the other women’s accounts made her feel less alone.
Gordon recalls Brand repeatedly asking to kiss her, then contacting her dozens of times a day after getting her number from his publicist. She says she was taken in by his attention at the time, and remembers him asking her to gargle with mouthwash before they kissed, which left her feeling there was something wrong with her. The article says Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault and jailed for more than ten years; it also reports that further abuse claims are being investigated.
In short
- Gordon says trial testimony brought back memories of her encounters with Brand.
- She recalls persistent calls and texts after their interview.
- She says other women’s accounts helped her recognise she was not alone.
Explained simply
Russell Brand is a comedian and former broadcaster who has faced allegations of sexual offences from several women. Bryony Gordon is a journalist who says she had encounters with him when she was 25 and has since described feeling demeaned and manipulated.
Women gave evidence in a criminal trial in which Brand was convicted of rape and sexual assault. Their accounts have also been discussed by other women who say they had experiences with him, while further allegations are being investigated.