Sharon Osbourne breaks silence on Russell Brand after knowing him for 20 years

Detailed summary

The allegations against Brand initially came to light in September 2023, when an investigation by journalists from The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches published…

Sharon Osbourne has responded following Russell Brand's sentencing. Earlier this week, the 51-year-old was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault. Sharon, 74, and the rest of the Osbourne family have known Brand for more than two decades. However, their longstanding acquaintance has done little to soften the former X Factor judge's stance, as she remains adamant that the actor should "pay" for his crimes. "Even if it's years ago and you've tidied up your life, you've got your head together. You've got everything going [for you]. The whole thing is ugly. But his wife, his kids...," Sharon said on The Osbournes podcast.

Jack Osbourne added: "And obviously there's the victims. It's horrible that they've had to and what they've had to endure and obviously lived through for decades now."

Sharon then stated: "He got his life together. But you know what? You play, you pay."

The allegations against Brand initially came to light in September 2023, when an investigation by journalists from The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 Dispatches published accusations from women who said they had been raped, sexual abused, and degraded by the entertainer.

"Being a woman, when I hear these cases where women have been abused and taken advantage of, I automatically go to the woman's side, because I love women, I care about them," she said.

During Brand's sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, Mr Justice Bennathan began by saying he was "in many people's eyes funny and charismatic" 20 years ago, before calling him a "sexual predator".

Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.

He was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan he met after one of his Hammersmith Apollo shows in 2009.

She said she "struggled to sleep and eat" and to "cope with my emotions" after the attack, the court heard.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Daily Express. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.