Katy Perry’s decade-old remarks branding ex-husband Russell Brand “very controlling” have gained fresh attention after his sentencing for sexual assault.
The singer, 42, first aired her frustrations in a 2013 Vogue interview, two years after Brand, 51, ended their 14-month marriage with a text message on December 30, 2011. She recalled inviting him to join her on tour “time and time again” during their relationship, only to have him refuse because he “didn’t like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour.”
“That was really hurtful,” she said in the magazine interview. “And it was very controlling, which was upsetting.”
Perry also revealed she had not heard from Brand in the years following their split, and that she had initially blamed herself for the marriage’s collapse before discovering what she termed the “real truth.” Despite her candor, she held back from full disclosure, stating she would keep her complete account “locked in my safe for a rainy day.”
The couple had wed in a traditional Hindu ceremony on October 23, 2010, near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India. Their divorce was finalized in July 2012.
Perry’s comments have circulated widely online after Brand received a combined sentence of roughly 10.5 years at Southwark Crown Court in London. He was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, offenses committed between 2004 and 2009, following a four-week trial. The sentence comprises nine years for the rape, plus additional terms of 18 months, nine months and eight months for the assault counts.
The singer was not called to testify during the proceedings. However, she appeared to reference her former husband during the first night of her Out of Office UK tour in July, telling the crowd: “I hope my ex isn’t here, he should be in jail.”
In her earlier Vogue remarks, Perry had described Brand as a “magical man” when they first met. “He’s a very smart man, and I was in love with him when I married him,” she added, framing the contrast between her initial impression and her later assessment of his behavior.
Perry continues her Out of Office UK tour with upcoming dates across Britain and Europe.