Russell Brand has reached a confidential deal to help settle a £220,000 legal claim for “wasted expenditure” over his failure to deliver two self-help titles.
It was reported in March that the actor and comedian, 49, was being sued by publishing house Pan Macmillan after he did not deliver on a contract he signed in 2021 to publish two non-fiction books, with an advance of £575,000.
The first book was due by May 2021 and the second before the end of that year, but neither had been delivered by September 2023 when the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into a string of sexual assault allegations made against Brand.The comedian, who is due to stand trial in October accused of rape and sexual assault, has vehemently denied the allegations and said all of his relationships have been “consensual”.
At that point, a representative for Brand reportedly told the publishers that a “longer deadline would be needed” around the same time the literary agency Curtis Brown “terminated their relationship” with him.
In December 2023, Pan Macmillan moved to terminate their own contract with Brand. The company sought compensation of £220,000 for “wasted expenditure” from the comedian and his company, along with interest and legal costs.
As reported by The Times, the Get Him to the Greek star has now reached a confidential deal to help settle that legal claim. The Independent has contacted a representative for Brand for comment.
Since relocating with his family to Florida in 2024, Brand has wrapped up most of his business interests in the UK, according to the publication. He has announced plans to close the final company registered with Companies House. Pablo Diablo’s Legitimate Business Firm Ltd is reported to have handled Brand’s earnings from live performances, merchandise sales, and social media appearances.
In addition to his work as a comedian and actor, Brand is the author of several bestselling books dating back to his memoir My Booky Wooky, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2007. His two most recent works were both published by Pan Macmillan: 2017’s Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions and 2019’s Mentors: How to Help and be Helped.
The non-delivered self-help books would have been Brand’s third and fourth titles to be published by Pan Macmillan.
According to the legal documents, Brand’s contract with the publishing house said that he “absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Macmillan… the full and prompt performance and observance of all the obligations required”.
If he defaulted on the contract, Brand agreed to “personally fully perform and fulfil such obligations and pay to Macmillan all damages that may arise in consequence of any such default”.
According to the publisher, Brand has “failed to produce the typescripts for the books at all”.
Brand did, however, write and publish a book this year with Tucker Carlson Books, a publishing imprint founded as a joint venture between the US political commentator and the New York-based Skyhorse publishing, known for championing conservative voices and releasing controversial books.
How to Become a Christian in 7 Days details Brand’s personal conversion story, using a seven-step program inspired by Alcoholic Anonymous to chronicle his religious journey.
In a scathing three-word review of the book, Australian musician Nick Cave wrote: “Good for atheism.”
The book’s release followed weeks after Brand was widely ridiculed online after an April appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, during which he spent over 90 seconds trying and failing to find a Bible passage he read in court back in February.
