Dannii Minogue's blunt assessment of Russell Brand in 2006 is attracting renewed attention after the British comedian was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.
The Australian singer described Brand as "completely crazy and a bit of a vile predator" following an appearance on his MTV chat show, 1 Leicester Square. Her remarks were originally published by Britain's Mirror newspaper, two decades before his imprisonment.
Minogue had appeared on the programme to promote her greatest-hits collection, The Hits & Beyond. According to reporting on the original interview, she said Brand made unwanted comments about her breasts, followed her down a corridor and persistently sought her telephone number. "He wouldn't take no for an answer," she said.
The comments are historical remarks receiving fresh coverage following Brand's conviction and sentencing. They should not be presented as a new statement from Minogue.
Brand, 51, was sentenced at London's Southwark Crown Court on Monday, November 9, following a four-week trial. A jury convicted him of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women. The Crown Prosecution Service said the offences occurred between 2004 and 2009.
He had denied the charges and maintained that his sexual encounters were consensual. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Brand will remain on the sex offenders' register for life. Officers praised the women who gave evidence and acknowledged the lasting trauma described in their victim impact statements.
The case also remains under investigation in relation to two further rape allegations, Reuters reported. Those allegations are separate from the offences for which Brand has been convicted.
