Russell Brand carried a Bible into his rape hearing. Piers Morgan asked him to find a passage, and it took a minute and a half to go sideways

Russell Brand recently appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, and the interview quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the week. The 50-year-old comedian, actor, and podcaster is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault made by six women, with the trial set to take place on October 12. His appearance on the show added a new layer to an already heavily covered story.

During the interview, Morgan brought up the Bible that Brand had taken into court in February. According to The Independent, Brand, who has recently become a Christian, was seen looking through it during his court appearance. Morgan asked him to read the passages that were relevant to him, but Brand spent over 90 seconds flipping through the pages before finally giving up and admitting he couldn’t find them.

The moment was widely mocked online, with many viewers going to social media to share their reactions. “This is so painful to watch,” one user wrote. Another described it as “one of the most painfully awkward exchanges” of the week. A third joked that there should be a class-action lawsuit against Brand for making people sit through it.

Brand’s admission about his relationship with a 16-year-old adds more weight to the growing criticism against him

During the same interview, Morgan asked Brand about his past relationship with a 16-year-old girl when he was 30. Brand admitted that while the relationship was legal at the time, he now believes his actions were “morally and spiritually wrong.” 

He also acknowledged that his sexual conduct in the past was selfish and exploitative, and that he didn’t give enough thought to how his actions were affecting others. This is not the first time Piers Morgan put a guest in a difficult spot on his show, as he has a well-known reputation for pressing guests with uncomfortable questions.

Earlier in the month, Brand had already admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old at that time. The age of consent in the UK is 16, unless the adult is in a “position of trust” such as a teacher, social worker, sports coach, or doctor, in which case the age of consent is 18.

Brand also said, “Consensual sex with a lot of people, when there is a strong power differential, as there is when you are a famous man who has the ability to attract women that I had at that time, I think involves exploitation.” This was seen as a significant admission by many who followed the interview. Cases like this are part of a broader pattern of famous men facing assault allegations from partners that have been making headlines recently.

His trial on October 12 will give his six accusers the chance to speak about their claims, and Brand will also have the opportunity to give evidence. The trial is expected to draw a great deal of public attention given how much coverage the case has already received. The Bible moment and his admissions during the Piers Morgan interview have together kept Brand firmly in the public eye in the lead-up to the trial, and it is clear that this story will continue to develop in the weeks ahead.