Laura Brand has spoken publicly for the first time since her husband Russell Brand was sentenced to prison for rape and sexual assault.
Laura, 39, hosted the Sunday, Nov. 15 episode of the couple’s weekly YouTube series “Sunday Service with the Brands” alone, telling viewers the program would continue despite the disgraced comedian being behind bars. The “Get Him to the Greek” star, 51, was sentenced earlier this month to 10 years and six months following a nearly four-week trial for incidents that occurred in the 2000s.
“This is something very very close to mine and Russell’s hearts,” she explained during the broadcast.
“[This show] may look different, but the ambitions are very much the same,” Laura said. “It’s painful and obviously will take some getting used to for me.”
“We trust God and we trust His plan and we trust everything He’s doing right,” she added.
Laura revealed she has spoken with her husband since his incarceration and that he is “okay” and “praying.” The couple shares three children. She can visit him once a week, though conjugal visits are prohibited.
Brand has been moved to HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire, England, a low-security facility that primarily holds around 1,200 male sexual offenders. He was transferred there on Friday and has access to his own cell, plus activities including yoga and bowling.
“He was heard asking for blankets on his first night, and he’s had extra officers looking after him since he arrived,” a source said. The source added that the “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star has yet to interact with other prisoners.
Throughout the trial, Brand adamantly denied any wrongdoing. Last Thursday, six additional women accused him of sexual misconduct, with the alleged incidents occurring around the same time as the prior misconduct for which he was convicted.
Following his conviction, Mia Latter, one of his accusers, revealed her identity for the first time and detailed the alleged abuse, which she said occurred when she was just 16.
A rep for Brand has yet to address the new allegations.
The Bible series episode marked Laura’s first public comments since the sentencing. She has maintained her presence on social media throughout the legal proceedings, though she had not directly addressed the verdict until the Sunday broadcast.
Brand’s conviction represents a dramatic fall for the comedian, who built a career in both the UK and US through stand-up, films, and later, political commentary and wellness content on YouTube. The “Sunday Service” series had become a cornerstone of his online presence in recent years, featuring the couple reading scripture and discussing faith with viewers.
The new allegations from six additional women emerged just days after sentencing, potentially complicating any appeal efforts and extending the legal shadow over Brand’s remaining assets and online platforms.
Brand is expected to serve his sentence at HMP Littlehey, where he has been described as “incredibly pale” and where sources indicate he has already faced abuse from fellow inmates.
Laura plans to continue hosting “Sunday Service with the Brands” each Sunday going forward.