Quick summary
- Australian singer Dannii Minogue described an uncomfortable 2006 encounter with Russell Brand in an interview with the Mirror, and the comments are circulating again.
- A jury at Southwark Crown Court found Brand guilty on 5 November of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
- He was sentenced on 9 November to 10 years and six months in prison.
- Minogue’s account concerns her own experience on his MTV show, not the offences the court considered.
Dannii Minogue’s account of meeting Russell Brand on the set of his MTV show in 2006 is drawing fresh attention this week, days after the comedian was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison. Reality Tea reported on 10 November that her earlier remarks have resurfaced following the court’s findings.
What Dannii Minogue said about Russell Brand
Minogue spoke to the Mirror after appearing on Brand’s short-lived MTV programme, 1 Leicester Square. According to the Reality Tea report, she said he made remarks she would not repeat, adding that “just uttering the words would make me blush”. She also said he commented on her body and repeatedly asked for her phone number.
She told the outlet that Brand followed her down a corridor while he kept asking. “He wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she said, describing him as “completely crazy and a bit of a vile predator”. She added that he “always goes that step too far”, though never far enough to make her slap him. She also called him “obviously very intelligent”, but said his behaviour left her uninterested.
These are Minogue’s own words as reported by the Mirror and relayed by Reality Tea. They describe her experience on the show, and the sources do not suggest the court considered them.
What the court found
The comments first resurfaced in 2023, when several women accused Brand of sexual assault. On 5 November, after a four-week trial, a jury at Southwark Crown Court in London found him guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, according to Reality Tea.
The jury acquitted him of two other rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault. The convictions related to four women and to offences between 2004 and 2009.
The sentence
On 9 November the court sentenced Brand to 10 years and six months in prison. Reality Tea reports that the judge described him as a “sexual predator” who committed sexual offences against several women over five years.
The timeline matters for context. Minogue’s interview dates from 2006, which falls inside the period covered by the convictions, but her account was a separate matter from the charges. That is why outlets have framed her remarks as renewed attention to an old interview rather than new evidence.
What happens next
The sources do not report any further court dates, appeal or response from Brand or his representatives, so none can be confirmed here. Readers can follow developments through the major news outlets covering the case. For more entertainment coverage, see our Celebrities and TV & Dramas sections, or return to the Modus Carry home page.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, contact a local support service. In Australia, 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) offers confidential help.
Frequently asked questions
What did Dannii Minogue say about Russell Brand?
She told the Mirror in 2006 that he made shocking remarks, asked repeatedly for her number and followed her down a corridor on the set of his MTV show.
What was Russell Brand convicted of?
A jury found him guilty on 5 November of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, involving four women between 2004 and 2009.
How long is Russell Brand’s sentence?
The court sentenced him to 10 years and six months in prison on 9 November.
Was Dannii Minogue’s account part of the trial?
The sources describe her comments as an earlier interview about her own experience. They do not say it formed part of the case.
