# Resurfaced photo revives criticism of Russell Brand’s New Statesman guest edit

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rapist-with-a-jesus-complex-guest-editing-the-new-statesman-in-portrait-echoing-the-last-supper/
- Published: 2026-11-06T22:58:17+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T23:24:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16272997/Rapist-Jesus-complex-guest-editing-New-Statesman.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- A 2013 photo of Brand at the magazine has resurfaced.
- His guest edit and comments about women are under renewed scrutiny.
- Kate Maltby says she was discouraged from criticising the decision.

## Summary

A resurfaced photograph of Russell Brand at a 2013 New Statesman editorial meeting has renewed criticism of the magazine’s decision to invite him to guest-edit an issue. The image, which evokes Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, shows Brand with senior staff and Jemima Khan; the article uses it to argue that the magazine gave him a platform despite his public remarks about women.

Brand’s opening piece said he accepted the invitation because it came from “a beautiful woman”, and included further comments about female beauty. Writer Kate Maltby posted the photograph and said she had been warned against criticising his guest edit if she wanted commissions from the magazine. The article reports her account but provides no further detail about when or from whom the warning came.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.