Russell Brand used a conservative conference stage Thursday night to swipe at his ex-wife Katy Perry’s relationship with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, turning a nostalgic mention into a pointed political jab.
According to PEOPLE, Brand, 50, appeared at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, where he shifted from policy talk to personal history, telling the crowd he still cares for Perry, 41 — then swerving sharply into criticism of her new partner.
“Look, Katy Perry, I was married to her. I love her still, and I’m glad that her mom’s in the room to hear me say this, but look. I was okay with Orlando Bloom, but Justin Trudeau? Come on, man! Don’t put me in a category with that guy! That globalist stooge,” Brand said.
The room erupted, and video of the moment began circulating within hours, igniting fresh buzz around Perry’s highly publicized new relationship.
Perry and Brand divorced in 2012 after two years of marriage, closing out a whirlwind era that once dominated entertainment headlines. She later moved on with actor Orlando Bloom, 48, whom she met at a Golden Globes afterparty in 2016.
The pair became engaged in 2019 and share a daughter, Daisy Dove Bloom, born in 2020. Their relationship ended this past June after nine years together.
Perry and Trudeau, 53, were first seen together in Montreal this summer, sparking speculation after being spotted on a date. A source familiar with the pair told PEOPLE at the time that they felt an “instant connection” despite full schedules and drastically different career chapters. In October, they made their first public appearance as a couple at a cabaret show in Paris celebrating her birthday.
Trudeau, who announced his separation from wife Sophie Grégoire in 2023, left office in 2025 after nearly a decade as prime minister.
Brand, meanwhile, has been embroiled in serious controversy. Earlier this year, he was charged with five counts related to accusations of sexual assault and rape from four women.
The allegations span incidents from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. Brand has denied the claims and said he “absolutely refutes” the accusations.
Still, Thursday’s comments marked a rare moment in which Brand publicly named Perry’s new relationship — and Trudeau — while adding a political edge.
The Canadian politician and global pop star have not commented publicly on Brand’s remarks.
