Pictures showing disgraced former TV presenter Russell Brand stripping completely naked in front of cops by the Eros Statue in London’s Piccadilly Circus in the noughties, show that his recent court case was not his first brush with the law.
Brand, 51, is currently dealing with life behind bars after he was jailed earlier this week for 10-and-a-half years for rape and sexual assault.
In 2002 when he was aged 27 he pulled down his infamous signature white underpants and raised his hands to the sky during May Day protests where 6,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square in a joint rally – including the trade unionists and anti-globalisation groups – and listened to speeches from a variety of activists.
Brand participated in anti-capitalist demonstrations at Piccadilly Circus in London. At the time, he was working as a presenter for MTV.
Brand teased police officers by waving a vibrator at them before ripping off his T-shirt, jeans, and underpants in front of the crowd.
As he stripped a police officer grabbed him by the arm and arrested him.
They released him once he dressed again, and an MTV spokeswoman confirmed at the time that the stunt would not affect his job.
Throughout his early career in the 2000s (when he worked with MTV, Channel 4, and BBC), colleagues and personal assistants noted that Brand frequently walked around offices, interviews, or his home shirtless and wearing only white underpants or a robe.
He famously filmed scenes for the 2011 remake of Arthur in New York while wearing white underpants.
Evidence and witness testimonies during his trial which ended this week frequently referenced his attire or lack there of, during encounters from the 2000s, including testimony regarding photos of him in white pants or underwear.
A handful of people including West Ham fan Brand were arrested following minor skirmishes with police during the 2002 Mayday annual protest, which drew thousands of people onto the capital’s streets and around the country.
There were small-scale clashes between May Day demonstrators and police in London that day but the overall tone of that year’s protests was principally peaceful.
A former inmate at the notorious prison where Russell Brand is being held has delivered a chilling warning to the convicted rapist — keep your head down or become a target.
“He’s a dead man walking,” the former inmate warned.
The ex-con, who was released from HM Prison Wandsworth in 2025, says the disgraced comedian actor and media personality is a “marked man” inside the violent London jail and could be in serious danger if he remains there.
Brand is being kept apart from other prisoners and housed alone amid fears his celebrity status, wealth and sex offence convictions could make him a target for violence, extortion and blackmail.
The former inmate said that the 51-year-old would need to survive until prison authorities arranged his transfer to another jail.
Perthnow.com reports: “If Brand stays in Wandsworth, he’s in real trouble — a dead man walking,” the ex-con said.
“He won’t be there permanently but needs to survive until he’s got his permanent move.
“Wandsworth is violent, corrupt, dirty and noisy. He will be so far out of his comfort zone.”
“When I was there staff paid prisoners to attack other inmates and violence would break out over the smallest thing,” he said.
“Brand will be a marked man while he is there and — if he is to stay safe — needs to move quickly.”
The former Hollywood star is understood to have undergone a cell-sharing risk assessment, with prison bosses opting to house him alone amid concerns for his safety.
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