Russell Brand Acknowledges Sexual Relationship With 16-Year-Old During His 30s, Characterizes Conduct as 'Exploitative'

The British comedian and television personality has opened up about a past intimate relationship with a significant age gap, recognizing the problematic nature of the encounter.

During a recent appearance on "The Megyn Kelly Show," Russell Brand disclosed that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl when he was 30 years old. Although the entertainer emphasized that the age of consent in the United Kingdom stands at 16, he nonetheless conceded that the substantial age difference made the situation morally questionable.

Brand addressed Kelly directly, stating:

"Thank you, Megyn Kelly, for giving me the grace to address, in particular, your anger, which is entirely legitimate and recognizable. And the plain fact of it is that in Europe and in the United Kingdom, where I'm from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30, but when I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old."

In his remarks, Brand characterized his conduct at the time as exploitative, indicating a retrospective acknowledgment of the inappropriate power dynamics inherent in a relationship between a 30-year-old man and a teenage girl. The comedian's candid admission comes as part of a broader conversation about accountability regarding past behavior.