Russell Brand convicted of rape and sexual assault as Anoushka Shankar brands him a monster

Russell Brand, 51, was found guilty of a single rape charge and three sexual‑assault charges at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday. The jury cleared him of two other rape allegations and an attempted indecent assault, crimes said to involve six women between 1999 and 2009. He was taken into custody after the verdict, with sentencing slated for the following Monday. Anoushka Shankar, the Grammy‑nominated sitarist and daughter of the late maestro Ravi Shankar, posted a scathing Instagram message calling the convicted actor a "monster" who concealed his true nature behind fame. She said the verdict felt like a modest win, noting that many other victims may never see justice. Shankar also disclosed that Brand had entered her home years ago without invitation, a detail that left her deeply unsettled. Shankar has released 13 solo albums, earned fourteen Grammy nominations and became the first Indian female artist ever nominated in the World Music category at age 20; she also performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony. Her comments highlighted how society often lets powerful men build egos and escape accountability, and she expressed shock at discovering the offender had once been in her own house.

Context

The case adds to a growing wave of criminal proceedings against high‑profile entertainers accused of sexual misconduct, reflecting a broader shift toward holding famous figures legally accountable for abuse.