“I cheered when the sentence came out,” said Lynda Morris, 70, when on Monday Russell Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for one count of rape and three of sexual assault.
The next day it was announced that acclaimed comic and children’s author David Walliams had been accused of grooming underage girls and using his celebrity status to prey on young women. He denies any criminal wrongdoing.
Oxford residents seem to have mixed opinions on Brand’s conviction and the accusations against Walliams.
“I hope his victims feel a sense of security,” said Meg Gardener, a recent Oxford University graduate, when discussing Brand.
“It’s kind of a wonder that Brand wasn’t already convicted. I’m happy it’s finally happened,” she added.
Sympathy for the victims was also noted by Lynda Morris, who was visiting Oxford for the day from Coventry. When speaking on the accusations against Walliams she said, “I think I have a tendency to believe the victims.
“Why else would people bring things up that destroy their lives?”
The main accusation Walliams is facing legally is the grooming of a 15-year-old school girl, which he denies. The other accusations are more morally than legally threatening. Other accusations mostly consist of using his fame to pressure women, who although were of legal age, were significantly younger than him.
The sense that Brand got away with the crimes for a long time seems to also be a running theme. Morris said “he should have been outed years ago by people who witnessed it.
“TV celebrities, people know they are a bit of a lad, but they let it go if they get good ratings.” Morris added.
“I think there was a culture at the time of male comedians being sexually weird,” said Eliza Ferrell, 23, an Oxford Brookes student. “I think they hid under being quite effeminate.” she added.
“I think it speaks to the idea of what a lot of men do, which is putting on a bit of an act so that they can get women to all into a false sense of security; and I’m sure that happens a lot in the public eye.” said Betty Racelord, 20, also a student at Brookes.
Brand’s sentence was, for some it seems, not harsh enough. “10 years is too light,” said Noah Gardener, Meg’s husband. “It is hard to track everything, but I am just happy he’s facing any time.”
Leopold Woozy, 19, another Brookes student similarly said “ten years is not much,” in reference to Brands conviction.
“Charge them in line with what they’re accused of, if its proven. If they’re given any preferential treatment because they’re celebrities, that’s not on,” said Will Stewart, 25, also a Brookes student.
There seems, among people in Oxford to be a sense of relief around Russell Brand’s conviction, and a hope that it could indicate a positive change in culture around celebrity convictions.