Ronald Brand has drawn criticism after publicly defending his son, comedian Russell Brand, following his conviction for rape and three sexual assaults.
The 82-year-old described his son as the real victim and accused the women who had come forward against him of pursuing and harassing him. His comments came shortly after Russell was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison.
Ronald’s public statements have renewed attention on the relationship between the father and son, including details Russell previously shared about his childhood in two autobiographies.
Russell Brand Described His Father as an Unpredictable Presence
In his 2007 memoir, My Booky Wook, Russell portrayed his father as a flamboyant Romford market trader who regularly pursued relationships and business opportunities.
He described Ronald as an “Essex Cavalier”, saying his life involved a different woman and a new money-making scheme almost every week.
Ronald grew up on a council estate in Dagenham and lost his own father when he was seven. He married Russell’s mother, Barbara, in 1969, but their marriage ended when their son was six months old.
Russell described his mother as a devoted parent while portraying his father as an occasional presence who arrived for what he called “cyclonic visits”.
He recalled that his father frequently arrived late for weekend visits, leading to arguments that often ended with both him and his mother crying.
Childhood Memories Included Exposure to Adult Material
Russell wrote that visits to his father’s bachelor flat in Brentwood often left him watching television while Ronald read newspapers or spent time with women.
He said he watched comedy films, Elvis movies and pornography while staying there. According to his memoir, he was exposed to his father’s collection of adult magazines from a very young age.
Russell described himself as having an early awareness of sexuality, which he attributed partly to being left with the magazines and other material.
He also recalled an incident during a family holiday at Pontins when a young girl told him that her mother was in bed with his father.
Russell followed the girl to their chalet and found Ronald in bed while the woman’s mother came out of the bathroom naked. He said he responded by asking his father for 50p to spend at the amusement arcade.
Father Took Teenage Son to Hong Kong
Ronald worked in several businesses, including wedding photography, double glazing and water filters. His trading activities enabled him to send Russell briefly to the private Gidea Park primary school.
However, Russell said the arrangement ended after his father failed to pay the school fees, forcing him to return to his previous state primary school.
Another episode described in his memoir involved a trip to Asia when Russell was 17.
At the time, Ronald’s third marriage had ended, and he wanted a companion for the holiday. Russell agreed to travel with him.
During their stay at the Mandarin Palace in Hong Kong, Ronald reportedly hired three sex workers and ordered champagne. Russell, who described himself as a virgin at the time, said his father arranged for him to spend time with a woman named Mary-Lou.
In his account, Russell described the experience as an event that shaped his subsequent relationships with women.
He recalled that his father asked him the following morning whether he had used a condom. When Russell said he had not, Ronald told him that he should have done so.
Russell also recalled his father saying during their return journey: “I went away with a boy and came back with a man.”
Relationship Deteriorated as Russell’s Career Developed
As Russell’s entertainment career progressed, his relationship with his father became increasingly strained.
In 2002, while presenting the television programme RE, Russell arranged a boxing match with Ronald. At the time, he was still struggling with heroin addiction.
During the programme, Russell accused his father of not caring about him.
He later recalled that the fight began cautiously before he started hitting Ronald harder, eventually knocking him to his knees.
The programme ended with the two discussing their relationship. Russell said they subsequently went to a pub together, where they joked about chatting up women.
The reconciliation did not last. By 2008, Russell had told GQ magazine that he and his father were no longer speaking.
During that interview, he also recalled advice Ronald had given him: “If you want something, you can have it. In life, just don’t take no for an answer.”
Father Was Excluded From Russell’s Wedding
The distance between the pair was evident in 2010 when Russell married American pop star Katy Perry without inviting his father.
In his second autobiography, Booky Wook 2: This Time It’s Personal, published that year, Russell focused heavily on his mother’s influence and offered little discussion of Ronald.
He credited Barbara with shaping qualities he considered among his most admirable, including compassion, gentleness and warmth.
In 2012, Ronald faced bankruptcy proceedings over approximately £13,000 in unpaid rent for his north London flat. He declined to seek financial assistance from his wealthy son and agreed to settle the debt himself following a court hearing.
Ronald Later Became a Public Defender of His Son
The father and son eventually moved towards reconciliation, with Ronald becoming a vocal supporter of Russell as allegations of sexual misconduct emerged.
In 2023, after a newspaper investigation conducted alongside Channel 4’s Dispatches reported allegations against the comedian, Ronald used Facebook to criticise the coverage.
He described the reports as a “vendetta” and questioned why allegations dating back 15 years were receiving prominent attention while other international and domestic issues were taking place.
His comments came as more allegations against Russell emerged.
Father Questions Son’s Conviction
Russell was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court following approximately eight hours of deliberations. The convictions concerned the rape of one woman and sexual assaults against three others.
Ronald reportedly reacted with disbelief to the verdict. He said he did not care that his son had been convicted and suggested it was possible the jury had been corrupted.
He also maintained that the women involved had pursued and harassed his son, prompting further criticism of his response to the case.
After his comments were widely reported, Ronald appeared to withdraw from further public engagement. When approached by the Daily Mail the following evening, he declined to answer the door.
