2010 Katy Perry and Russell Brand “Obey” Clip Resurfaces After Conviction
A 2010 red carpet clip of Katy Perry and Russell Brand, in which he flashes an "Obey" sign at her, has resurfaced after Brand's conviction in a London trial. Viewers are reacting online, and Perry has not commented publicly on the case.
A 2010 red carpet interview with singer Katy Perry and comedian Russell Brand, in which Brand holds up a small black sign reading "Obey", has resurfaced online after his conviction in a London trial. The obey interview with Katy Perry is drawing fresh attention from viewers.
Perry has not publicly commented on the accusations against her ex-husband.
What the clip shows
The footage was filmed at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, where a reporter asked the couple live on air for their thoughts on the Academy Awards. When the reporter turned to Brand, Perry cut in: "You didn't watch it."
Brand replied, "I did watch the Oscars," and began describing his favorite moment. Still visibly agitated, he then gave Perry a look and pulled out the "Obey" sign, flashing it her way. She fell silent.
The reporter, also stunned, asked Perry, "Katy, how do you deal with this guy?" Perry hesitated and continued to look uncomfortable. Brand was photographed holding the sign several times that evening.
The sign came from a clothing line created by street artist Shepard Fairey. Some social media users read the gesture as Brand asserting control over Perry in public.
"Proof that even wealthy, successful, seemingly confident women like her can fall victim to men like him," one viewer commented.
The trial
Six women accused Brand of various offenses. His trial ran at Southwark Crown Court in London from October 14 to November 3. A 12-person jury convicted him after two days of deliberations.
Brand, 51, was denied bail and is due to be sentenced. Since the verdict, online users have been combing through his past media appearances for apparent red flags.
Perry's name also surfaced in court. Brand's defense lawyer, Ian Winter, raised the possibility that a witness was present in the room during one alleged incident, which could have included "the defendant's future wife, Ms Katy Perry". Scotland Yard reportedly never asked her for a statement.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy Jones said references to Brand's relationship with Perry after 2009 "may be sensitive", and prosecutors agreed to remove them from the proceedings.
A short marriage
Perry and Brand met on a movie set in 2009 and married in a lavish Hindu ceremony in Rajasthan, India, in October 2010. Brand filed for divorce in December 2011, 14 months into the marriage.
Perry has said he ended it by text message while she was on tour. In a 2013 interview she said she had not heard from him since he texted that he was divorcing her on December 31, 2011.
"He didn't like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour. So that was really hurtful, and it was very controlling, which was upsetting," she said then.
A source told reporters that Perry has received multiple offers for her story but refused to consider any until Brand's trial ended. "There is a lot about that marriage which people don't know," the source said.
