Rosie O’Donnell has criticized Megyn Kelly for defending Russell Brand after his rape and sexual assault convictions. The comedian responded on Threads with a brief message aimed directly at the former Fox News host.
The exchange followed the November 9 episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, during which Kelly discussed Brand’s sentencing. She had interviewed him in April, months before his criminal trial in London.
Brand, 51, received 10 years and six months in prison at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. His sentencing came four days after a jury returned guilty verdicts following a month-long trial.
O’Donnell had addressed the case in a separate Instagram statement on November 6. That message focused on her own history with Brand and her reaction to learning about the crimes committed by someone she had known personally.
Rosie O’Donnell Responds to a Post About Kelly’s Comments
Rosie O’Donnell is cursing out Megyn Kelly over her defense of Russell Brand, who was convicted of rape and sexual assault
— JustJared.com (@JustJared) November 11, 2026
Comedian D.L. Hughley shared an image of Kelly’s remarks on Threads, according to Just Jared‘s November 11 report. O’Donnell joined the conversation beneath his post.
“Go f urself Megan,” she wrote in her reply, misspelling Kelly’s first name. She left the message at those four words.
Kelly Says Brand’s Prison Sentence Was Too Harsh
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Kelly argued during her broadcast that Brand’s punishment was excessive. She also questioned whether he had been treated fairly, claiming that his political views had influenced the way his case was handled.
After playing footage of Mr Justice Joel Bennathan explaining the sentence, Kelly accused the judge of bias. She extended her criticism to news organizations, arguing that their coverage had presented Brand unfairly.
Kelly had publicly supported Brand immediately after the verdict, telling listeners that she did not believe the charges, as Mediaite recounted. Her sentencing discussion continued that defense, and her show’s official Instagram account subsequently shared a clip from the broadcast.
The Court Set Out the Reasons for Brand’s Punishment
The jury convicted Brand of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. The offenses occurred between 2004 and 2009, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault, having denied all seven charges.
Bennathan’s published sentencing remarks explain that the rape conviction carried a nine-year prison term. The sentences for the other three offenses were ordered to run together, adding another 18 months. The judge said he had followed sentencing guidelines and considered whether the combined punishment was proportionate.
He also considered Brand’s personal circumstances and his subsequent work helping people with addiction. Those factors led him to reduce the rape sentence he otherwise would have imposed by one year. Allegations that had not resulted in convictions were excluded from his decision.
Senior Crown Prosecutor David Roberts thanked the women for testifying and describing how the attacks continued to affect their lives. He said they had not known one another before the case. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Brand will remain on the sex offenders’ register for life.
O’Donnell Says She Once Considered Brand a Friend
In her earlier statement, O’Donnell recalled meeting Brand at Los Angeles International Airport. She remembered being impressed by his charisma, style and command of language, and became interested enough in his work to read his books and attend his live performances.
Their acquaintance continued beyond that first meeting. Brand visited her home in Florida, and they occasionally exchanged text messages. “I considered him a friend,” she wrote, explaining that they lost touch before he became involved in MAGA politics.
O’Donnell said she had heard little about him until the rape charges emerged. She described feeling shocked and struggling to understand how the person she remembered could have caused such harm.
Her statement also discussed the lasting effects of abuse and the difficulty of recognizing it in people who are admired or trusted. She praised the women who came forward and called for perpetrators to be held responsible regardless of their fame or position. “Accountability is a must guys,” she wrote.