Russell Brand’s Instagram account removed days after he was jailed for rape

Warning: This article contains discussion of rape and sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.

Russell Brand has been booted off Instagram following his conviction for rape and sexual assault.

The former comedian and actor had more than six million followers on his Instagram page but now if you head to the social media profile you’ll be greeted with a message that reads: “Sorry, this page isn't available.

“The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.”

Brand’s X account, which remains active following his conviction and subsequent incarceration, shared a screenshot of messages from his Instagram account that read: “We disabled your account. Our technology found your account, or your activity on it, doesn’t follow our rules.

“We suspended your page. This is because Russell Brand goes against our community standards.”

Brand’s official X page shared screenshots showing that his Instagram account had been removed (X/@rustyrockets)

The screenshot also revealed that the account was removed on Wednesday (10 November).

Instagram’s parent company Meta, confirmed to TMZ that the page was taken because it ‘violates our policies’.

Sharing the post on X, the person running Brand’s official account, wrote: “There never was a Russell Brand, according to @Meta.

“Thank God for @elonmusk. Stay tuned.”

Last Thursday (5 November), 51-year-old Brand was found guilty of raping a woman in 2009, as well as sexually assaulting female TV and radio workers between 2004 and 2009 following a four-week trial.

He was found not guilty on three other counts.

Earlier this week, Brand was handed a ten-and-a-half year sentence at Southwark Crown Court.

At his sentencing on Monday (9 November), the court heard four powerful victim impact statements, including one who described Brand as ‘a sexual predator who has no remorse for how his behaviour has impacted my life.’

She told the court Brand’s fame had left her afraid to speak out for years, adding: “His fame, wealth and influence created a power imbalance which made me feel powerless.”

Another said she feared the sexual assault will ‘haunt me every day’ and the process of reporting the incident ‘felt like a marathon I had not trained for.’

Presiding judge Mr Justice Bennathan said: “About 20 years ago, Russell Brand, you were becoming famous. You were clever and, in many people’s eyes, funny and charismatic. You had also become a sexual predator.

Russell Brand was jailed for more than a decade (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

“Your status protected you until 2023 when journalists published allegations.

“No doubt your companions thought it was outrageous laddish behaviour that only you could get away with: It was outrageous and possibly laddish, but also a criminal sexual offence, and as it turns out you haven’t got away with it.”

The judge said Brand harboured a ‘casual arrogant disregard to any woman’s right to say no to you’ while his fame meant that he believed ‘you could act when you liked and how you liked’.

After the sentence was handed down, Brand appeared emotionless but told his wife, Laura Gallacher: “We’ll be OK,” before he was taken downstairs by dock officers.

Brand is expected to serve two-thirds of his 10 years and six months prison sentence before being released on licence.

He will also be on the sex offenders’ register for life.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.