‘I interviewed Russell Brand days after his wedding ceremony – his flirty comment left me shocked’
A journalist has recalled an unexpected exchange with Russell Brand during an interview just days after his wedding to Laura Gallacher
Katie described Brand as possessing a magnetic confidence(Image: James Manning/Press Association)
A journalist has said that Russell Brand made a surprising remark about her appearance during an interview, just days after he married his wife Laura Gallacher.
Katie Glass, writing in The Times, reflected on meeting the disgraced comedian in 2017, when he was promoting his book Recovery and presenting himself as a man who had undergone a spiritual transformation.
But despite having recently tied the knot and becoming a father, there was something about their conversation that left her taken aback.
The interview took place at a luxury hotel on the outskirts of London, with Katie recalling how she had first encountered Brand years earlier, when he would appear backstage alongside Amy Winehouse and flirt with make-up artists.
Katie said: “Now he was 42. Gone was the kohl-eyed Jack Sparrow look — he was in his man bun era. He was peddling his reinvention as a spiritual guru. I didn’t buy it.”
He had married Laura just two days earlier, and their daughter was ten months old. However, Katie was surprised by his behaviour towards her during their meeting.
She recalled how he complimented her “Malteser” eyes before asking: “Do you want a cuddle?” He then proceeded to give her one.
Katie described Brand as possessing a magnetic confidence, comparing his swaggering charisma to that typically associated with cult leaders and rock stars.
Russell Brand and Laura Gallacher married in 2017(Image: Getty)
She said: “He did not seem a monster, as Tina Brown considered Harvey Weinstein, but then it is a misconception to think all dangerous men are overtly monstrous.”
“He was charming, flirtatious, clever, offering me food, water and coffee, name-dropping Buddhist teachers and the Dalai Lama, asking if we’d met before. He must have met a lot of women.”
However, looking back on the encounter following his conviction, Katie said his behaviour appeared in a different light.
She recalled how he repeatedly used her first name, saying: “I don’t know, Katie,” while looking into her eyes.
He had also arrived late and, when she requested additional interview time, responded: “I’m not a very complicated person. I think an hour — you’ll have drained every possible drop from me…”
Katie added: “It is possible to fancy someone and dislike them. I felt like he disliked women. In his stand-up he dehumanised them, joking about choking them during sex acts.”
One anecdote involved an orgy at his home, which he described by saying: “Four in the bed, two in the kitchen, three in the hot tub and still the doorbell rings.”
She questioned how such attitudes fitted with his claims to have embraced spirituality and, later, become an advocate for equality.
Brand is facing years in prison(Image: Metropolitan Police)
Katie was interviewing him about Recovery, but said she was unconvinced by his presentation of himself as someone who had found spiritual salvation.
She recalled asking him about his biggest regret from his time as a sex addict, having expected him to express guilt over his previous behaviour.
Instead, he replied: “I don’t have any.”
When she questioned whether he regretted any of his behaviour, he said those experiences “don’t exist now. It’s not real. It’s an illusion. I’m really content and connected to where I am.”
Her recollections come after Brand was convicted on Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
The 51-year-old was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan in 2009 and sexually assaulting three women in separate incidents between 2004 and 2009.
The journalist was surprised by his behaviour towards her during their meeting(Image: Hugo Philpott/Press Association)
He was acquitted of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand denied all the charges, with his legal team arguing he had been wrongly accused and was the victim of a media conspiracy.
Two further allegations against him are also being investigated, while he remains in custody ahead of sentencing on Monday.
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