// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
Russell Brand tells court allegations had devastating impact on him
Russell Brand has said a documentary that made allegations about his behaviour had a "devastating" effect on him, and made friends and colleagues turn against him.
The entertainer has begun giving evidence as his defence case gets under way at his trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Brand, 51, is accused of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
The allegations, made by six female complainants, span a 10-year period between 1999 and 2009. He denies all the charges.
Asked whether consent was important to him, he told the court: "Consent is fundamental, essential, necessary and indeed many ways more important than sex itself."
After Brand entered the witness box on Wednesday morning, defence barrister Ian Winter KC began by taking him through the indictment, asking him if he had committed the offences.
After each question, Brand replied "no" loudly towards the jury.
Brand was then asked about a documentary that aired in 2023, which included some allegations against him.
Asked by Winter what impact the documentary had had on his friends and colleagues turning their backs on him, Brand said: "It was devastating."
Winter questioned whether Brand had been able to persuade any friend or acquaintance who might have been able to give evidence on his behalf to appear in court.