Russell Brand looks back on Katy Perry marriage, calls It a 'strain'

Russell Brand has opened up about his current relationship with ex-wife Katy Perry, more than a decade after their brief marriage ended in 2012.

Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, the 50-year-old actor and comedian said he has not been in contact with the pop star since their split, which came after 14 months of marriage.

When asked whether they remain in touch, Brand responded, “Look, that is true,” acknowledging that communication between them has not continued since the divorce.

However, he noted that he has maintained a connection with Perry’s parents. “I do stay in touch with her father, Keith, and her mother, Mary, because they’re good Christian folks,” he said.

Brand also reflected on the relationship itself, admitting he handled the marriage poorly and was struggling with his own insecurities at the time.

“I pushed to get married early because I felt inadequate and insecure and like I wasn’t enough,” he said. “And that if I was married to her, I would somehow be a better person and more important.”

He added that those pressures ultimately placed strain on Perry. “That put her under an unnecessary amount of pressure and strain,” he said.

Brand also said he feels “a good deal of sympathy” regarding recent public discussions surrounding Perry, though he did not elaborate further.

Perry and Brand were married in 2010 before separating in 2011 and finalising their divorce in 2012.