Russell Brand

Yes, stopping one obsession or addiction replacing another is a psychological phenomena. It’s a personality thing. Brand’s personality has always given me the creeps. Brand attracted a following of young men who admired him when he gave up drugs
Kneeling and praying on arrival at Court 🙈. He might have replaced substances with his own version of Christianity but he’s still a narcissist

I know that there is the concept of forgiveness, in Christianity, but I think there must be genuine regret and attempts made to amend.

Sorry you experienced that Dickens, I had several awful experiences in my youth but was drinking a lot at the time and so always blamed myself.
I know that back in the day, as your story bears testimony to, some men behaved like that because they could get away with it. And is the same for these highly paid popular celebs. They believe they can get away with it, and they do get away with it for years. It happened with Greg Wallace and has happened with Russell Brand. Until a woman is brave enough to blow the whistle and then others are encouraged to come forwards.

Fallingstar

Sorry you experienced that Dickens, I had several awful experiences in my youth but was drinking a lot at the time and so always blamed myself.
I know that back in the day, as your story bears testimony to, some men behaved like that because they could get away with it. And is the same for these highly paid popular celebs. They believe they can get away with it, and they do get away with it for years. It happened with Greg Wallace and has happened with Russell Brand. Until a woman is brave enough to blow the whistle and then others are encouraged to come forwards.

I completely agree.

Did anyone notice............
Brand's wife was with him on Day 1 but nowhere to be seen on Day 2. He arrived at court in the car on his own apart from the minders.

Possibly it was too much for her. This could potentially break up their marriage and affect their poor children. People (men) never consider in their youth how their behaviour will affect their innocent children in the future.

Every time I look at him I think of Charles Manson. Can’t think why - just very,very creepy.

His wife seems to drag him away from the cameras and acts more like his PA.
If he was my husband then I’d be long gone and divorced him by now.

Purplepixie

His wife seems to drag him away from the cameras and acts more like his PA.
If he was my husband then I’d be long gone and divorced him by now.

She is documented as saying she married him because she wanted to save him. They have 3 children but he has never changed a nappy and she has called him her adult child.

Her family and friends say she is besotted with him and will stick by him, no matter what the outcome.

Purplepixie

His wife seems to drag him away from the cameras and acts more like his PA.
If he was my husband then I’d be long gone and divorced him by now.

She probably wonders what inane rubbish he’ll be spouting to the assembled crowd.

Galaxy

I am not commenting on guilt or innocence . But Brands behaviour was in plain sight and often cheered on.

Exactly. The 'innocent till proven guilty' statement is a legal one, not a ban on having an opinion. Presumably the people who say they don't have an opinion because it has not yet been legally proved are happy to extend the same argument to Saville?

His wife reminds me of those women who marry rapists and murderers in jail, hoping I suppose that they can save them, or because they are mentally/emotionally unstable.

Purplepixie

His wife seems to drag him away from the cameras and acts more like his PA.
If he was my husband then I’d be long gone and divorced him by now.

But his wife would have known of his promiscuity when she married him. It was never a secret. What she wouldn't have known was the amount of rape he is being accused of. It must be impossibly distressing to sit there listening to the lurid details straight from the victim's moth. I know I couldn't do it, and it seems like one day in court was enough for her and who can blame her.

I’ve read similar comments to those Sarnia posted, that his wife is besotted and wanted to save him. Most of us would have run a mile from him

Fallingstar

His wife reminds me of those women who marry rapists and murderers in jail, hoping I suppose that they can save them, or because they are mentally/emotionally unstable.

Yes, me too.

Do you remember the (dark) comedy sketch with Catherine Tate as "Elaine", in love with an inmate on D Row? The humour came from her complete obliviousness to the horror of his crimes.

However, Brand is not accused of murder, so the stakes are different - but maybe the 'mentality' is similar. She did - allegedly - say she wanted to 'save' him.

They do a Sunday service thing on YouTube together, their dynamics are weird.

Innocent until proven guilty.
Let's see what the jury thinks.
I thought Brand quite funny back in the day but not handsome ? He was always a bit too scruffy verging on grubby.
Has to be said he in no way hid the fact that he was a womaniser (to put it politely)- not suggesting that that would exonerate him from alleged sexual offenses.
The business with Andrew Sachs' granddaughter was pathetic and said far more about Ross and Brand than it did about Mr Sachs and his granddaughter.
What happened to real men not kissing and telling ?
😞😞🤔

RB’s wife is Laura Gallacher, Kirsty Gallacher’s sister.

Some months ago I was criticised heavily for starting a thread about a current court case, eventually it was reported and removed.

Petrina

Galaxy

I am not commenting on guilt or innocence . But Brands behaviour was in plain sight and often cheered on.

Exactly. The 'innocent till proven guilty' statement is a legal one, not a ban on having an opinion. Presumably the people who say they don't have an opinion because it has not yet been legally proved are happy to extend the same argument to Saville?

Savile is dead so there will not be a court case.

If a case is sub judice, like Brand's, it's best to be careful what is posted on social media because it could cause a mistrial.

JenniRen

Petrina

Galaxy

I am not commenting on guilt or innocence . But Brands behaviour was in plain sight and often cheered on.

Exactly. The 'innocent till proven guilty' statement is a legal one, not a ban on having an opinion. Presumably the people who say they don't have an opinion because it has not yet been legally proved are happy to extend the same argument to Saville?

Savile is dead so there will not be a court case.

If a case is sub judice, like Brand's, it's best to be careful what is posted on social media because it could cause a mistrial.

I think we are being careful - acknowledging the fact that he is at the moment innocent of the crimes he's charged with, and I've certainly made no comment on those charges, nor on the defendants.

We can discuss him as a 'person' without in any way alluding to the current case against him, and I think that's what we're doing. He has a reputation for being extravagantly OTT in his appearance and his behaviour - neither of which makes him guilty; it's simply his past 'celebrity' lifestyle. I listened to him decades ago now taking a political stand about something or other and found myself actually agreeing with him, but can't remember now what the issue was.

So, yes we can have an opinion on his past antics without in any way prejudicing his trial - one which will determine facts which is as it should be. And none of us know those facts at the moment. Everyone's entitled to be held innocent until or unless proven otherwise.

... but I do take your point, and there's no harm in being 'reminded'.

I read his Booky Wooky years ago and he was very spoilt by his adoring mum and paternal gran.

Sago

Some months ago I was criticised heavily for starting a thread about a current court case, eventually it was reported and removed.

Double standards rule on here.

Sago

Some months ago I was criticised heavily for starting a thread about a current court case, eventually it was reported and removed.

I’d completely forgotten about that!

I didn’t report you, but apologies for starting this thread as you have a very valid point.

Anyone is free to report and ask to have this removed, if they so choose.

I won’t mind, I’ll simply start the thread again once the case has finished.

I have always been able to spot a dodgy person a mile off! I always suspected Jimmy Savile long before he was exposed. I said as much on another forum and was admonished for speaking badly of Saint Jimmy!

I’ve always felt uncomfortable about RB and another “national treasure” who absolutely gave me the creeps and he has now been cancelled thank goodness.

I always felt that Mr Savile was creepy, too, Primrose, and Gary Glitter, also.
However, I do acknowledge that I didn't pick up on Rolf Harris.