Controversial comedian Russell Brand has admitted to having sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30, citing that it’s the age of consent in the UK.
In an interview with The Megyn Kelly Show, published on Wednesday (local time), Brand opened up about his past, including the time he had sex with a 16-year-old when he was 30, explaining that he was a “very different” person at that age.
“In Europe and in the United Kingdom, where I am from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30,” the comedian, now 50, shared.
“But when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old.”
Brand went on to admit that his sexual acts “in the past” were “exploitative” due to the power dynamics of being a well-known comedian.
“Consensual sex, actually, with a variety of people when there is a strong power differential, is there is when you’re a famous man that has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think, involves exploitation,” Brand continued.
“I recognise that my sexual conduct in the past was selfish and I didn’t apply enough consideration, I suppose really to how that sex was affecting other people.”
“What fame gave me and what my addiction fueled was opportunity for endless consent,” he added.
“Which led me to be a hedonist and a fool, and an exploiter of women, and that is wrong. And that is something that needs to be redeemed and addressed and atoned for.”
Brand went on to say he’s “not only querying, but violently or aggressively or assertively opposing, is the idea that this is a judicial criminal matter where consent was overridden”.
“Actually what happened is consent was directed. That’s what being famous and being, if I may say, forgive me, charismatic affords you is the ability to direct consent. That doesn’t mean it’s right. It’s actually not right. It’s wrong. It’s a sin. It’s an expression of selfishness and false idolatry,” he said.
“We’re not the final say on what’s right and wrong. God is the final say.”
The comedian is currently facing accusations by six different women between 1999 and 2009, including seven charges. This includes three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault, per The Guardian.
Brand has denied all the claims.
Help is available.
If you’re in distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online. If it’s an emergency, please call 000.
Under 25? You can reach the Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
The post Russell Brand Admits To Having Sex With 16 Y.O. When He Was 30: ‘I Was A Very Different Person’ appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
