Russell Brand joked about consent at Trump event weeks before rape conviction

Russell Brand cracked a joke about consent at a Trump event just weeks before he was sentenced to ten years in jail for rape and sexual assault.The fallen comic was a featured speaker for the Make America Healthy Again summit, a group closely allied with US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.Brand received a warm welcome from the hosts as he went on to criticise vaccine mandates, junk food and pharmaceutical companies.Ahead of the discussion, TV presenter and physician Dr Oz said: 'Russell Brand was backstage hugging the secretary of agriculture. But here he is.'As Brand took to the stage, he joked: 'She initiated that contact, I should make clear doctor,' prompting laughs from the audience.Brand is said to be a close ally of RFK, who attended the summit in September alongside Vice President JD Vance. The 51-year-old was photographed with several senior US cabinet members including Mr Vance, RFK and Donald Trump Jr, before he was sentenced to ten years and six months in jail for rape and sexual assault. At the MAHA summit, Brand’s pending rape charges did not appear to be an issue, as he was warmly welcomed and commented on topics such as vaccines and junk food As Brand took to the stage, he joked: 'She initiated that contact, I should make clear doctor,' prompting laughs from the audience' After moving to America, Brand was said to have built a new life, embracing Christianity and becoming ingratiated into Mr Trump's circle of wealthy, famous friends. Brand lived with his family in a £1.9million bungalow in Florida's Santa Rosa Beach.And the former actor and comedian was even honoured with a 'Global Defender of Freedom' award at a black-tie gala ceremony in the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago after attending Mr Trump's inauguration.Following his conviction last week of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, Brand was transported to HMP Wandsworth and put in the Care and Separation Unit.He was sentenced yesterday afternoon to ten years and six months at Southwark Crown Court and will serve two-thirds of that time – equating to seven years.Overnight, a woman screamed 'rot in hell' at a prison van believed to be carrying Brand as he was dropped off at the category B prison to serve his sentence.Footage showed the vehicle draw into the grounds of the jail in south-west London while onlookers urged Brand to 'bang on the window'.But as the white van approached the entrance to the prison a woman shouted 'justice for women!'. Russell Brand is pictured here with Donald Trump Jr in Florida Russell Brand (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (right) are pictured during a surprise visit to Discovery Place, a long-term recovery center in Burns, Tennessee, in May 2024 The large prison gate could be seen slowly shutting just as an officer began to open the vehicle's backdoor As the white van approached the entrance to the prison a woman shouted 'justice for women!'. She later added, 'rot in hell!' One image taken of a van believed to be carrying Brand showed a crucifix suspended from what appeared to be a set of rosary beadsShe later added, 'rot in hell!'.The large prison gate could be seen slowly shutting just as an officer began to open the vehicle's backdoor.The Metropolitan Police confirmed investigations are ongoing into two allegations of rape made against Brand, and its chief Sir Mark Rowley said he would not be surprised if 'many more' alleged victims of Brand came forward. A crucifix and a suit jacket could be seen through the window of the van thought to be carrying Brand, which was chased by photographers up Battle Bridge Lane.One of the images showed the crucifix suspended from what appeared to be a set of rosary beads.Police based outside the court began to depart immediately after the van left, as court staff also started removing barricades outside the building.Brand was said to be 'petrified' after being taken to the jail. The 51-year-old star had been visibly shaken as the prospect of prison loomed over his trial, saying he was scared in an episode of his Sunday Service show with wife Laura Gallacher.In the recording on October 11 – the day before the jury was selected – Ms Gallacher, who left the court in tears yesterday, read out a message from a supporter who told him that God would be with him in prison and that he would 'get through it'. Brand with his wife Laura Gallacher and her father Bernard Gallacher outside court on Monday Supporters of British actor and comedian Russell Brand stand with a banner outside Southwark Crown Court as Brand waited to be sentencedBrand, who said he entered court wearing the 'full armour of God', tapped her on the shoulder and said: 'I don't like things where it's like you might have to go to prison.'She replied sympathetically: 'Yeah, I know, but that is just the nature of what a trial is.'Months earlier, Brand had been asked by Piers Morgan whether he had considered the 'reality' that he could end up in jail. He replied: 'I will be with God wherever I am.'Brand was found guilty of raping a 21-year-old fan after meeting her at a 2009 stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo.He was also found guilty of groping another MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, but not guilty of going on to orally rape her in a toilet.Jurors found Brand guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker after meeting her in a corridor in 2005 and guilty of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker during a forced massage in 2009.He was cleared of raping a woman he met at a cabaret show on the fringes of the 1999 Labour Party conference in Bournemouth and was found not guilty of trying to drag an MTV worker into a toilet to indecently assault her in 2001.