A resurfaced video of Russell Brand flashing an ‘Obey’ card towards his then-wife Katy Perry during a 2010 Oscars red-carpet interview has reignited interest in their brief marriage.
The footage, recorded while the former couple spoke to a GMTV reporter, shows the comedian correcting Perry after she jokingly accused him of not watching the Academy Awards ceremony.
The exchange became increasingly uncomfortable when Perry made a remark about her husband’s response, prompting Brand to tell her not to swear before holding up a small piece of card bearing the word ‘Obey’ towards the camera.
Brand subsequently walked away from the interview, leaving Perry to continue speaking with the reporter.
Brand Tells Perry Not to Swear During Interview
The former couple were walking hand-in-hand along the red carpet when the reporter asked what they thought of the evening’s events.
Perry immediately teased Brand, suggesting he had not watched the ceremony.
Brand disagreed and began describing what he claimed was his favourite moment from the show, referring to an incident involving several people on the red carpet.
When the reporter pointed out that Perry had put her husband in an awkward position, Brand insisted that he had watched the Oscars.
Perry then made a remark suggesting she did not believe his explanation, using an expletive in the process.
Brand immediately pointed towards her and instructed her not to swear.
He continued addressing her while explaining that the programme was being shown in England.
He then unfolded the small piece of paper he had been holding and displayed the ‘Obey’ logo directly towards the camera.
Katy Perry Appears Uncomfortable as Brand Walks Away
The logo was associated with the clothing brand created by American street artist Shepard Fairey.
Although it was part of a fashion label, some social media users interpreted Brand’s decision to display the word during the exchange as an attempt to assert control over his then-wife.
Perry appeared subdued as the interview continued, turning away from the camera after the incident.
When the reporter asked Brand who he was pleased to see winning at the ceremony, he responded that he was happy for everyone, including the winners, nominees and people who had attended.
He also described the people filling the seats as the unsung heroes of the event.
Brand subsequently walked away, apparently looking for another reporter, while Perry remained behind to complete the interview.
Although he continued holding her hand and appeared to be attempting to lead her away, the singer stayed with the reporter.
Asked how she dealt with her husband’s behaviour, Perry initially struggled to respond before describing him as hilarious.
The reporter sarcastically replied that she was glad Perry found him funny.
The singer then admitted that she was speechless, adding that she was usually the bubbly one in their interactions.
Singer Reportedly Considering Book and Docuseries About Marriage
The resurfaced footage comes as Perry reportedly considers revealing more about her 14-month marriage to Brand through an autobiography and documentary series.
Sources close to the singer told The Mail on Sunday that she has received several offers over the years to share her experiences but had been unwilling to proceed before the conclusion of Brand’s criminal trial.
A Hollywood source said Perry had a lot to say about the relationship and that discussions were now underway with her team.
The source also claimed that a streaming series and an autobiography were being considered, with Netflix and Hulu among the platforms reportedly contacted.
The insider described the marriage as a particularly dark period in Perry’s life, adding that there were aspects of the relationship that the public did not know.
Perry and Brand married in 2010 after meeting while filming Get Him to the Greek in 2009. Their wedding took place during a Hindu ceremony in India.
However, their relationship ended in 2011 after just 14 months of marriage.
Perry Previously Described Brand as Controlling
Perry previously spoke about the breakdown of her marriage in a 2013 interview with Vogue.
She explained that Brand initially appeared to want an equal partner but suggested he struggled with her independence and professional success.
The singer said Brand was uncomfortable with her taking charge during tours and described his behaviour as controlling.
She also revealed that she had initially blamed herself for the relationship ending before discovering information she said she could not publicly disclose.
Perry added that she had kept what she described as the real truth about their separation in her safe for a rainy day.
The singer has also previously suggested that Brand’s behaviour during their marriage was more complicated than the public knew.
Brand Announced Separation by Text Message
The couple’s separation reportedly came in December 2011, with Brand informing Perry that he wanted to end their marriage through a text message shortly before she was due to perform.
There had also been reports of tensions in the relationship in the months leading up to their split.
Brand attracted attention after removing his wedding ring during a university tour of America and joking about his anticipated encounters with female students.
In a video published on the Nudevista website, he described his upcoming engagements as a ‘week of revolution’.
He also joked about sororities and said he would put his wedding ring somewhere safe while travelling.
Perry was reportedly unhappy after Brand shared a photograph of her waking up in bed without make-up on social media. The image was subsequently deleted.
Perry’s Name Emerged During Brand’s Criminal Trial
The singer’s former marriage has also returned to public discussion following Brand’s criminal proceedings.
During the trial, Brand’s defence barrister, Ian Winter KC, raised the possibility that Perry had been present in a room during an alleged sexual assault in 2009.
The incident reportedly involved a woman who said Brand had put his head in her lap during filming for Channel 4.
Winter suggested that other people might have witnessed the incident, potentially including Perry, who would later become Brand’s wife.
However, Perry was not called to testify, and Scotland Yard reportedly did not approach her for a statement.
A reference to the singer’s possible presence was subsequently removed from the trial following submissions by Brand’s legal team.
Perry has not publicly commented on Brand’s conviction for rape and sexual assault.
Singer Makes Public Remark About Her Former Husband
In July, Perry made a pointed remark about Brand during a question-and-answer session with fans at the Blenheim Palace Festival in Oxfordshire.
When asked to act out her reaction to seeing an ex-partner, the singer responded by saying she hoped Brand was not present because he should be in jail.
The comment attracted attention as Perry had largely avoided discussing her former husband publicly since their separation.
Her remarks also came amid renewed interest in her previous comments about Brand’s alleged controlling behaviour.
Perry’s Relationships After Her Divorce
Following her divorce from Brand, Perry went on to have a decade-long relationship with actor Orlando Bloom.
The couple, who separated in June 2025, share a daughter, Daisy Dove, six.
Perry subsequently began a relationship with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau in July 2025 after their paths crossed while she was on tour.
Trudeau had separated from his wife, Sophie Grégoire, in 2023.
Photographs showing Perry and Trudeau kissing aboard a yacht emerged in October 2025.
The singer later described Trudeau as the love of her life during interviews connected to her concert film, Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour – Live from Paris.
