Katherine Ryan has reacted to the guilty verdict in Russell Brand’s rape and sexual assault case. The comedian has praised the women who came forward with allegations against the actor. Her response has also brought renewed attention to her previous comments about confronting an unnamed comedian over alleged predatory behavior.
Ryan discussed the verdict in the new episode of her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything. She said she was “in awe of the survivors who also had nothing to gain” by coming forward. Ryan also acknowledged the influence Brand’s fame and popularity could have had on the women who accused him, noting that he had “fame, power, money, and a legion of fans ready to attack them.”
The comedian described her reaction as a mixture of relief and sadness. She said, “I will never be someone who like, dances on graves. There has been some justice done today. There’s a level of relief, but there’s grief alongside relief.”
Katherine Ryan’s 2022 comments about an unnamed comedian resurface
The comedian’s latest reaction has renewed interest in her 2022 conversation with Louis Theroux. During the interview for his Interviews series, Ryan discussed an incident from her time on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle. She recalled confronting a male comedian over behavior she considered predatory.
Ryan said she had called the individual a “predator” to his face. She further described the unnamed comedian as a “perpetrator of sexual assault” but did not identify him. Explaining her decision, she called the situation a “litigious minefield,” suggesting that publicly naming the person could have legal consequences.
The interview led to speculation that Ryan was referring to Brand, who had also appeared on Roast Battle. However, she has never confirmed this, and the identity of the comedian she discussed remains undisclosed.
The jury found Russell Brand guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court. It also acquitted him of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Brand denied the charges.
The court remanded him to custody following the verdict and scheduled his sentencing for November 9, 2026.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
