Russell Brand’s conviction puts strain on wife Laura’s family

The Daily Mail quoted a family friend saying Bernard was worried and angry about his daughter’s situation, though controlled in his response. He attended court out of concern for her well-being, according to the report. Family members are focused on protecting Laura and her three children from the effects of the conviction, while her mother, Lesley, is reportedly urging her to move back to England with them.

The conviction has also reportedly affected Laura’s relationship with her sister, former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher. Kirsty is said to feel guilty because she introduced the couple about two decades ago. She initially shared a statement from Brand online in support of him, then deleted it after facing backlash. A family friend said the Gallachers were under “considerable strain” and hoped Laura’s life would no longer revolve around her husband.

Laura met Brand at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006. She told the court she ended their relationship in February 2007 after learning he was sleeping with other women, saying he found monogamy difficult. They reunited in 2015. In testimony, the 39-year-old mother of three described him as an “amazingly attentive husband” and said their family life was based on honesty and care.

Before the verdict, Brand spoke on his “Sunday Service” podcast about fears of going to prison. In a clip reported by The Blast, he told Laura, “I don’t like things where it’s like you might have to go to prison.” His father, Ron, later said he was “bemused and shocked” by the verdicts and called them wrong. The family was preparing for a formal sentencing hearing scheduled for Monday, according to the article.