Jemima Goldsmith, the British journalist and filmmaker widely known in Pakistan as the former wife of PTI founder Imran Khan, has publicly accused her ex-boyfriend Russell Brand of violence, coercive control, and abuse during their brief relationship a decade ago.
In a detailed statement posted on social media Monday, Goldsmith revealed she once summoned police to forcibly remove Brand from her London residence following what she described as a violent incident in 2014. The 52-year-old said she ultimately chose not to press charges, citing fears that intense media scrutiny would harm her teenage sons—Sulaiman and Kasim Khan—who were minors at the time.
Goldsmith’s explosive allegations surfaced hours after Brand, now 51, was sentenced to more than ten years in prison for rape and multiple sexual assaults. A British court found the disgraced comedian guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. He was acquitted on two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
“I am glad and relieved he has finally faced justice,” Goldsmith wrote, expressing solidarity with the women who testified against Brand during his criminal trial.
The former couple dated for roughly one year around 2014, years after Goldsmith’s high-profile marriage to Imran Khan ended. She stated she has had no contact with Brand since their relationship concluded but confirmed she assisted journalists investigating allegations against the comedian. Goldsmith added she would have been prepared to testify about his behaviour if those reporters had faced legal challenges.
In her statement, Goldsmith also addressed a 2015 legal injunction involving herself, Brand, and a woman named Szilvia Berki. According to Goldsmith, Berki visited her home in June 2014 to provide Brand with a massage, but the appointment was cancelled when Goldsmith arrived unexpectedly. Berki later claimed Brand had pushed her while she was leaving the property.
Goldsmith said she witnessed nothing inappropriate and that police closed the matter after reviewing her statement and security camera footage. She further alleged that Berki subsequently sent her threatening and antisemitic messages.
Recent media coverage of the injunction has triggered a fresh wave of online harassment directed at Goldsmith, prompting her decision to speak out. “I have been put in a position now where I feel that I have no choice,” she explained, describing the experience as deeply painful and personal.
Goldsmith remains a figure of considerable public interest in Pakistan, where she is remembered for her decade-long marriage to Imran Khan and her ongoing philanthropic work. Her sons with Khan continue to maintain ties to Pakistan, and she has frequently visited the country over the years.
Brand’s sentencing marks a dramatic fall for the once-celebrated entertainer, whose career spanned comedy, film, and broadcasting before serious allegations emerged in recent years.
