Russell Brand admits to 'exploitative' sex with a 16-year-old girl

Russell Brand has admitted that he had 'exploitative' sex with a 16-year-old girl at the height of his fame but insists his actions were not against the law.The comedian and actor turned podcaster, 50, is facing trial this autumn over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him by six women.He was first charged with the alleged offences against four of the women in April 2025, and his trial was set to start at Southwark Crown Court on June 16 this year.Brand, who denies all the charges which date from 1999 to 2009, spoke about his past actions to US journalist Megyn Kelly on her podcast, calling himself 'selfish' and an 'exploiter of women'.He said: 'In Europe and the United Kingdom, where I'm from, the age of consent is 16, and I did sleep with a 16-year-old when I was 30.'When I was 30, I was a very different person. I was a lot younger, and I was an immature 30-year-old.