Russell Brand Was an ‘Open Secret’

In September 2023, The Onion ran a headline that said, “Nation Could Have Sworn Russell Brand Was Already Convicted Sex Offender.” With his ultimate conviction for rape and sexual assault this month, now comes the reporting that bears that sentiment out. Netflix has an upcoming documentary film titled Russell Brand: Open Secret, which will release tomorrow. Per Netflix, the Olivia Isaacs–directed doc “features inside voices and archive footage providing insight into Brand’s life and the investigation run by The Times and The Sunday Times.” “The reason that I’m doing it is for the people that I do know personally that haven’t been able to speak up,” a voice says in the trailer.

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Earlier this month, Brand was convicted on one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault in the U.K. He was found not guilty on two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. The charges came after a documentary that aired on Channel Four in collaboration with The Times and The Sunday Times, with work by chief media correspondent Rosamund Urwin and investigations correspondent Charlotte Wace. He was ultimately sentenced to 10.5 years in prison.

The upcoming film will include details not just about Brand’s crimes, but about his career in general. He began as a comedian, worked as a TV presenter, and recently has become a conservative Christian influencer. “He’s a grifter,” a male voice says in the trailer. “He’s a shapeshifter.” 

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