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CrimeQuiet 12d · day 19

Russell Brand's ex-assistant testifies to pattern of mistreating women at trial

Former personal assistant Helen Berger describes seeing the comedian find women online to satisfy his "insane sexual appetite" while normalizing poor behavior.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 13d ago34 pieces Google NewsNewswiresMastodon

What to know

  • Brand is on trial at Southwark Crown Court on charges of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault.
  • His former personal assistant testified that she witnessed him treat women poorly and had an "insane sexual appetite," using MySpace to find women for sex.
  • Berger said those around Brand normalized his behavior, making her think "this is just the way it is here," and she quit after nine months.
  • The trial continues with prosecution presenting witness testimony about Brand's conduct during his period as a MTV, Channel 4, and BBC personality.

“she once had to stop his mother and girlfriend walking in on him having sex with someone in his dressing room”

Helen Berger, Former personal assistant · The Guardian ↗

Russell Brand DefendantHelen Berger Former personal assistant (2006–2007)Sadie Frost Actress

Russell Brand's ex-assistant testifies to pattern of mistreating women at trial
Evening Standard

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articles

Peak 14 pieces in 5h at Oct 26, 8 AM; 34 pieces over 19 days (33 articles · 1 post) Oct 20, 5 PM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Google News 4Oct 20, 10 PM — quietOct 21, 3 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 21, 8 AM — quietOct 21, 1 PM — quietOct 21, 6 PM — quietOct 21, 11 PM — quietOct 22, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 22, 9 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Oct 22, 2 PM — quietOct 22, 7 PM — quietOct 23, 12 AM — quietOct 23, 5 AM — quietOct 23, 10 AM — quietOct 23, 3 PM — quietOct 23, 8 PM — quietOct 24, 1 AM — quietOct 24, 6 AM — quietOct 24, 11 AM — quietOct 24, 4 PM — quietOct 24, 9 PM — quietOct 25, 2 AM — quietOct 25, 7 AM — quietOct 25, 12 PM — quietOct 25, 5 PM — quietOct 25, 10 PM — quietOct 26, 3 AM — quietOct 26, 8 AM — 14 pieces · 14 articles — Google News 11, Newswires 3Oct 26, 1 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Google News 1, Mastodon 1Oct 26, 6 PM — quietOct 26, 11 PM — quietOct 27, 4 AM — quietOct 27, 9 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 2, Google News 1Oct 27, 2 PM — 4 pieces · 4 articles — Newswires 3, Google News 1Oct 27, 7 PM — quietOct 28, 12 AM — quietOct 28, 5 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — quietOct 28, 3 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 1 AM — quietOct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 9 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 7 AM — quietOct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 5 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 1 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 6 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 10 AM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 1

    Berger explains why she left the job after nine months

    Berger said she quit working for Brand after nine months when she was "sick of him and feeling burned out." She testified that the environment of normalizing and dismissing his behavior made her think it was simply the way things worked.

    “Though I've worked with a lot of celebrities before and seen a lot of people normalising bad behaviour, this was on another level.”
    — Helen Berger, Former personal assistant · source
    1. 6 outlets Russell Brand told police 'promiscuous' celebrity life 'reframed' as rape

      first by RTE.ie, 12d ago · also Evening Standard, RTE News, ITVX, Guardian Media, Guardian

      5 more headlines
  2. background

    Witness recalls Brand conducting interview in underwear with actress — Berger testified that Brand once conducted an interview with actress Sadie Frost while dressed only in his underwear and an open robe. She also recalled finding a female celebrity asleep in Brand's bed while he wandered the house half-dressed.

  3. background

    Berger describes Brand's pattern of finding women online for sex — Berger told the court that Brand had "an insane sexual appetite and was sleeping with people day and night," and that she recalled him joking about needing to "go and have sex" when on deadlines. She said she was instructed to get phone numbers for female fans but felt uncomfortable and stopped.

  4. 2

    Brand's ex-assistant testifies to mistreatment of women

    Helen Berger, who worked for Brand from June 2006 to February 2007, told Southwark Crown Court that she witnessed him treat women poorly and saw evidence of his "insane sexual appetite." She testified that Brand used MySpace to find women for sex and that those close to him normalized his behavior.

    1. 9 outlets Russell Brand’s Former Assistant Recalls Quitting As She Felt ‘Sick’ Of His ‘Insane Sexual Appetite’

      first by Yahoo, 13d ago · also London Evening Standard, Evening Standard, Irish Examiner, Maldon & Burnham Standard, East London and West Essex Guardian, Largs and Millport News +2

      3 more headlines
    2. 3 outlets Russell Brand had ‘insane sexual appetite’, ex-assistant tells court

      first by The Times, 13d ago · also Guardian, Guardian Media

      2 more headlines

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 1 outlet Russell Brand scolded woman about bed sheets after alleged rape, court hears

    first by The Independent, 17d ago

    1 more headline

and 2 smaller pieces