Jemima Goldsmith says she called police during a 2014 incident involving Russell Brand and explains why she remained silent at the time.
LONDON: Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, has accused British comedian and television presenter Russell Brand of violence, coercive control and abusive behaviour, revealing that she called police during a violent incident at her home in 2014.
Goldsmith made the allegations in a public statement on Monday, Nov. 9, following Brand’s sentencing in the United Kingdom for rape and sexual assault offences. She said she had personally experienced his abusive behaviour during their relationship and had called police to have him removed from her house.
She explained that she had chosen not to press charges or speak publicly about the incident at the time because she was concerned about the impact of media attention on her teenage children.
Goldsmith also confirmed that she had neither seen nor spoken to Brand since their relationship ended in 2014. She described the experience as a difficult period that had left a lasting impact on her life.
Expressing support for the women who testified against Brand, Goldsmith praised their courage in coming forward and participating in the legal proceedings. She said she was relieved that the entertainer had finally faced justice.
Goldsmith also revealed that she had assisted journalists investigating allegations against Brand over several years and had been willing to testify about her own experiences if the media organisations involved faced legal action.
Her statement also addressed controversy surrounding a harassment injunction obtained against therapist Szilvia Berki, who had made allegations concerning an encounter with Brand at Goldsmith’s home in 2014.
Goldsmith said Berki had subsequently subjected her to alleged harassment, including antisemitic messages, threatening communications and hateful emails. She claimed the harassment extended to her children, family, workplace, journalists and UNICEF.
According to Goldsmith, Berki had also made allegations involving kidnapping, bribery of police officers and attempts to influence a judge. Goldsmith maintained that the legal order was necessary to protect her family from further harassment.
She said the High Court had upheld the injunction and described the alleged harassment campaign as unacceptable. Goldsmith added that she was prepared to agree to amendments to the order but remained concerned that the harassment could resume if its protections were weakened.
The controversy has drawn renewed attention to the legal proceedings involving Berki and the circumstances surrounding the injunction, as well as Goldsmith’s former relationship with Brand.
Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison after being convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. The offences took place between 2004 and 2009. He was also acquitted of three other charges.
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