Katherine Ryan explains why she feels 'grief and relief' after Russell Brand conviction
Katherine Ryan has opened up about the complicated emotions she has experienced following Russell Brand's conviction.
The Canadian comedian, 43, addressed the verdict on the latest episode of her podcast Telling Everybody Everything, after Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Brand, 51, was convicted following a trial at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday (5 November), with the offences relating to four women. He was also cleared of two counts of rape and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
Speaking about the outcome, mother-of-four Ryan admitted the news had left her feeling emotional, while expressing her admiration for the women who came forward to share their experiences.
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"It really made me feel just quite dysregulated again, caught-off-guard, emotional, in awe of the survivors who also had nothing to gain," she admitted.
"They came forward despite Russell Brand having fame, power, money, and a legion of fans ready to attack them."
Ryan went on to explain why she wasn't celebrating the conviction, despite believing some justice had been served.
"I will never be someone who like, dances on graves," she continued. "There has been some justice done today. There's a level of relief, but there's grief alongside relief.
"Everything's nuanced, and it was proved in court that a terrible thing happened, and that means that a terrible thing happened."
The much-loved funny-woman also reflected on the lasting impact of the experiences described in court, explaining that a guilty verdict cannot undo what the women have been through.
Ryan said she repeatedly thinks about those who have been hurt and the fact they will have to carry the impact of what happened, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
She also expressed concern about what could happen following the verdict, suggesting that some of his supporters may continue to harass the survivors.
"Because he's obviously spent a long time cultivating this idea that the establishment have invented these claims against him, and he's martyred himself to a growing audience who really still think that it is the courageous survivors who are the villains in this story," she went on.
Ryan and Brand previously appeared alongside one another on Comedy Central's Roast Battle in 2018.
Elsewhere in her podcast, Ryan also criticised Brand's barrister, Ian Winter KC, after he confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin outside the courthouse following the verdict.
"I hope you are pleased with yourself," Winter told Urwin, who responded that she was pleased justice had been done.
"Well, it wasn't. You f***** it," Winter angrily replied.
Ryan described the exchange as 'so unprofessional, so inappropriate, so aggressive' and 'really sickening'.
Winter said in a statement: "Having seen the ways matters have been characterised in today’s press, I consider my professional duty requires me to self-report those allegations to the Bar Standards Board so the matter can be subject to proper scrutiny. I have made such a report."
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday (9 November), with the judge indicating that a significant custodial sentence is inevitable.
Topics: Katherine Ryan, Celebrity, UK News, Russell Brand, News
Rhianna Benson
