Celebrity3 min(s) read
Inside Russell Brand’s ‘going-away party’ with 100 guests on beach before rape trial
.jpg_xKEaT0?tr=cr-0.328.2730.3058,f-webp,q-70,w-100)
Details around Russell Brand's final party before his rape trial have now been revealed, days after he was found guilty.
The British actor and comedian was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault offences against four women between 2004 and 2009, and is facing a lengthy prison sentence.
Brand appeared in London's Southwark Crown Court on November 5, and after two days of deliberation, a jury delivered a verdict.
The 51-year-old, who is currently being held behind bars, has been told by a judge to expect a 'significant custodial term' for his crimes.
Now, it has been revealed that the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star had planned a 'going-away' party with 100 guests on a beach.
Russell Brand's goodbye party
The actor threw a huge party in Florida days before traveling to the UK for his trial, inviting 100 guests to the event on September 27 at Grayton Beach in Florida.
According to Page Six, this included members of an all-women's sobriety program known as the Path of Grace Recovery, as well as people from his church.
An insider told the publication that it was a 'going-away party', with Brand's wife of nine years and their three children also in attendance.
Brand has been outspoken about his 12-step sobriety program in recent years, having also worked with others on their sober journeys - a detail which was mentioned during his rape trial.
The Path of Grace Recovery facility is located in Destin, Florida, describing itself on its website as offering a 'structured and protected setting for women who are ready to change their lives.'
They add: “We emphasize on Christ-centered teachings and sponsorship through Alcoholics Anonymous. We believe both are crucial for lifelong recovery,” it states on its website.
As per TMZ, the comedian 'supported' Path of Grace, though his connection to the program is unknown.
Brand himself didn't describe the gathering as a 'going-away party', but a guest claimed it felt like one as the Brit would imminently be heading to court.
Speaking to those in attendance, Brand admitted: "I might be going away for a long time."
Brand prayed with guests, allegedly telling them that he was trusting in God, while one noticed that he didn't seem too concerned about the trial.
Brand admitted to using a 'smokescreen' method to pick women up
Following his conviction, a video has resurfaced where Brand was accused of using a gay persona as a smokescreen.
In the video, David Walliams, who himself faces sexual allegations exposed by the Guardian and ITV, is also accused of deliberately presenting themselves as gay to lure unsuspecting women in.
Matt Lucas, Walliams' Little Britain co-star and writer, makes the not-so-subtle accusation by asking the pair: "You're the gayest straight blokes there are, aren't you?"
Walliams responded: "Isn't it a wonderful smokescreen?"
While fanning himself with his top hat, suggesting the comment made him hot under the collar and laughing, Brand adds: "Isn't it glorious? It works wonderfully well."
The video, which has since gone viral across social media platforms, is captioned: "During the Russell Brand trial, the court heard that he 'acted gay' to disarm women and make them less likely to perceive him as a threat.
"Here's Russell Brand and David Walliams joking about acting gay as a 'smokescreen.'"
One of the complainants testified that she initially assumed Brand was gay when they met after a 1999 Labour Party conference, and he explicitly denied pretending to be gay to attract women.