Woman Who Made Allegations Against Russell Brand Drops Anonymity to Push for Age of Consent Reform

Mia Latter, a woman who previously alleged she was raped by Russell Brand when she was 16, has waived her right to anonymity and is now campaigning for a staggered age of consent.

The Interview

Latter, now 37, spoke to the Sunday Times after previously being known under the pseudonym Alice during a joint 2023 investigation by the Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4's Dispatches. She was one of six women who made allegations against Brand at that time, which Brand denied. Latter initially described the incident as a sexual assault in the 2023 report, but now refers to it as rape. She recalled meeting Brand on her way home from a shopping trip when she was 16 and he was 30 and working at MTV. Latter stated that Brand told her to keep their relationship secret from school friends and called her the child in front of his entourage, pointing out a clear imbalance in power. The alleged oral rape occurred towards the end of their relationship.

Legal Context And Campaign

Brand was recently sentenced on Monday to 10 and a half years in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, though he was acquitted of two counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. None of the women from the 2023 media investigation were complainants in that criminal trial. Latter stated that the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to include her in that trial, but police wanted her involved in a subsequent trial. She has chosen not to continue with the criminal process so she can focus entirely on her campaign. Latter wants a staggered age of consent that prohibits relationships between 16- and 17-year-olds and adults, clarifying that she does not want to criminalize teenagers having sex with each other, but rather wants relationships between adults in their thirties, forties, or fifties and anyone under 18 to be a criminal offense. A Met Police spokesperson confirmed an investigation was launched in January 2026 after receiving an allegation of rape, and detectives sought advice from the CPS. A CPS spokesperson said they will continue working closely with investigators to progress cases quickly.

Context

The age of consent laws in many regions set a specific threshold for legal sexual activity, but public debates often arise around the nuances of power dynamics and age gaps between minors and older adults. High-profile criminal trials and media investigations frequently spark wider conversations about legal reforms and the protections available to young people. Campaigns led by survivors often aim to change existing legislation to address perceived gaps in how the law treats age disparities.