nuOct 15, 2026, 17:18

Victim says Russell Brand became 'monstrous' before alleged rape

Russell Brand is on trial for seven criminal charges, including rape and sexual assault, stemming from allegations dating back to 1999. In court, a survivor described how the comedian's behavior turned aggressive in a hotel room, and she explained that she delayed reporting the crime due to fears for her career and disbelief.

Comedian Russell Brand is currently facing trial on seven charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault, covering alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009. During the proceedings, a jury heard a 2023 police interview with a woman who reported being raped by Brand in 1999. She recounted meeting him at a Labour Party conference and going to his hotel room, where his demeanor allegedly shifted abruptly from friendly to aggressive. She described feeling threatened and trapped after he forced her to take photographs and subsequently sexually assaulted her.

The survivor expressed deep distress, noting that she struggled for years with the trauma, fear of pregnancy, and the belief that she would not be believed if she spoke out. She further testified that she had initially feared for her career if she reported the assault. Brand has consistently denied all accusations brought against him. The legal proceedings are expected to continue for another six weeks as the court examines these serious allegations.

Culture

Read original ↗

Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Davina Michelle had security for some time due to 'bizarre fans'

Singer Davina Michelle revealed she previously hired security due to frightening encounters with delusional and aggressive fans that left her feeling unsafe at home. Podcast host Johan Derksen also shared his negative experiences with constant security monitoring, highlighting the personal challenges faced by public figures in the Netherlands.

Russian DJ dropped from ADE after hate message to Ukrainian

Russian DJ Komarov has been dropped from the Amsterdam Dance Event after a past hateful message directed at a Ukrainian colleague surfaced. While his removal has been confirmed, critics continue to call for further screening of other Russian artists who may have ties to the Kremlin or disputed territories.

Elif Shafak finally gives Emma Bovary a rebuttal in her monument to Flaubert

Elif Shafak's latest novel, De eeuwigheid in een kort moment, offers a complex reimagining of Gustave Flaubert's life through the perspectives of thirty different female characters. The narrative blends historical biography with social critique, exploring both Flaubert's literary legacy and the broader political issues of his era.

James Marriott outlines the catastrophic consequences of the decline in reading in ‘A World Without Books’

In his book Een wereld zonder boeken, James Marriott explores the dangerous societal and political impacts of declining literacy in the digital age. He argues that the loss of deep reading habits undermines critical thinking and threatens the foundations of democratic societies.

In this remarkable collection, violence is a disturbingly natural presence

In the collection Een topografie van geweld, poet Yasmin Namavar explores the presence of a violent figure who embodies both an external oppressor and an internal struggle. The work examines the disturbing nature of violence through the metaphor of a man in a necktie.