Katherine Ryan reflects on grief and relief after Brand verdict

Katherine Ryan said Russell Brand’s conviction for one rape and three sexual assaults brought her a mixture of relief and grief, and that she was thinking about survivors. The verdict was delivered by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on November 5. Speaking on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, Ryan said the verdict had left her feeling caught off guard and emotional. She said she was in awe of survivors who came forward despite Brand’s fame, money and supporters. Ryan added that she felt relief alongside grief and was thinking about people who had been hurt and would continue to carry those experiences, regardless of the court’s decision. Ryan also said women were speaking privately after the verdict and described them as feeling a complex mix of emotions. Her remarks addressed the effect of the case on survivors and others who had shared experiences with one another. Ryan has previously spoken publicly about confronting an unnamed male comic whom she described as a predator. In interviews, she said she could not name the person because doing so would create legal risks, and she did not identify the programme where the confrontation took place. Reports have connected...