Russell Brand guarded by boxer pal of Tyson Fury as he appeared in court on rape and sex assault charges
COMEDIAN Russell Brand was guarded by a boxer pal of Tyson Fury as he appeared in court on rape and sex assault charges, we can reveal.
Brand, 49, brought Joe McCann along as backup at Westminster magistrates’ court on Friday.
McCann is a former sparring partner of world heavyweight champ Fury.
Fury was pictured with Joe in 2019 at a boxing gym in Marbella and posted a snap of the pair to his Instagram.
Joe – who has a tattooed neck – writes that he is “living sober” and has a passion for boxing and fitness as well as “meditation and yoga” on his social media.
An onlooker at the central London court said: “Brand rocked up with two security guards — and one of them was Joe.
“It’s all very odd.
“Why would a pro boxer be protecting Russell?
“Russell strode confidently beside Joe through the crowd into court and they looked very pally.”
Born-again Christian Brand, based in Florida, has previously been seen with Joe in online pics.
The pair were first pictured together in 2022 on Joe’s Instagram in Liverpool and he commented: “Great night with special people.”
He denies rape and sex assaults on four women from 1999 to 2005.