Noel Fielding apologizes for past jokes with Russell Brand after resurfaced clip

In his first statement since Russell Brand was sentenced to over ten years in prison earlier this week, Noel Fielding has addressed his relationship with the disgraced actor.

“I was horrified and deeply disturbed to learn of Russell Brand’s crimes, which I was completely unaware of until they became public knowledge,” Fielding said in a statement to The Sun. “My thoughts are with the women whose courage brought him to justice.”

Fielding said that although he appeared numerous times on television, radio, and live charity shows alongside Brand and “played it up for the cameras and in the media,” he “considered it a professional relationship, rather than a personal one.” The Great British Bake Off presenter added, “I have had no contact with him for many years.”

Following Brand’s conviction, a clip from the 2007 Channel 4 show The Big Fat Quiz of the Year resurfaced in which Fielding joked about rape. In the episode, host Jimmy Carr invited Rob Brydon, David Mitchell, Jonathan Ross, Fielding and Brand, plus singer Lily Allen, the only woman on the panel. Ross described Allen as a “sexually attractive young lady” and warned that she was seated next to “two of the most well‑known comedians in the business,” referring to Brand and Fielding. As the camera cut to Fielding and Brand, Fielding responded: “How dare you? We’re not rapists.”

In a statement to The Sun, Fielding said he was appalled by the jokes he made with Brand in the past. “They were horrible and inappropriate, and I very much regret them.”

On Monday, Brand was sentenced to ten years and six months in prison following his conviction at his rape trial. A jury in London found Brand guilty on four of the seven charges against him, including one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two additional rape counts and one count of attempted indecent assault. The allegations against him concerned claims made by six women between 1999 and 2009.

Six more women have come forward with additional claims of sexual misconduct against Brand following the conviction. The new allegations span from 2005 to 2015, extending beyond the timeframe covered in the original trial (2004‑2009).

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