Who Is Russell Brand's Sister-In-Law Kirsty Gallacher?
English actor Russell Brand has made headlines after being accused of rape and sexual assault against four women. The victims claim that Brand assaulted them between 2006 and 2013, but he denies the allegations. Several other women say he behaved inappropriately, flashing his private parts at them or making innuendos. Brand's sister-in-law, Kirsty Gallacher, shared a link to his denial video on her Instagram page in a gesture of support but deleted it shortly after. In the video, he said that all of his relationships have been consensual, despite his questionable behavior.
Kirsty is the sister of Russell Brand's wife, Laura Gallacher. The reason she withdrew her support may be related to her job and public image. She's "one of the U.K.'s most respected live broadcasters," according to M&C Saatchi Merlin, with a career spanning two decades. Over the years, she has worked as a presenter at Sky Sports and GB News, hosted a radio show, and launched a fitness DVD.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Kirsty Gallacher grew up with sports in her blood
Born in Scotland and raised in England, Kirsty Gallacher is one of the most popular figures in sports broadcasting. Throughout her career, she presented highly acclaimed TV shows, such as Sky One's "Gladiators" and "Soccer Aid," but in her younger years, she dreamed of becoming a fashion journalist. At age 19, she was invited to take a screen test at Sky Sports — and the rest is history. Back then, she worked at a store while studying at the London College of Fashion.
However, it's not surprising that she pursued a career in sports media, given that her father, Bernard Gallacher, was a pro golfer with 11 tour titles under his belt. The "Gladiators" host grew up with sports in her blood, taking time off her job at a flower shop to play sports. At first, she hesitated to accept the job at Sky Sports but eventually changed her mind. "I love sport, so I decided to go for it, thinking I could always go back to fashion," Kirsty told The Independent.
The journalist is proud of being one of the first women to work for Sky Sports. Although she quit her job in 2018, she continued to work in the media. In 2021, Kirsty was hired as a host for GB News' "Great British Breakfast" but had to leave after being diagnosed with tinnitus, a condition that causes ringing in the ears. Her symptoms were due to a benign tumor and affected her ability to sleep.
The Soccer Aid host went through a painful divorce
Kirsty Gallacher has always been private about her personal life and stayed focused on her career. What we know so far is that she went through a painful divorce from rugby star Paul Sampson in 2015. "I was a skinny, anxious wreck, traumatized because of lots of reasons around the divorce," she confessed on Decathlon's "Power of Ten" podcast (via the Mirror). The two dated for several years before tying the knot, and they have two sons together.
Sadly, their marriage started to fall apart after Gallacher's father had a heart attack. "It put things in perspective and made me feel like I didn't want to waste my life. I seriously asked myself whether I was really happy," she said at the time (via The Sun). Meanwhile, her husband was having a depressive episode following his retirement from sports. The couple decided to go separate ways, agreeing that it was the best thing to do under the circumstances. But even so, Gallacher took the divorce hard, saying she developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Since her split from Sampson, she has found refuge in fitness and tried to rebuild her personal life. In 2023, the former Sky Sports star told podcast host Gabby Logan that she was ready for a serious relationship. "I haven't had that in a long time. You yearn for that as a person. I am very romantic and would really love that at this point. I'm ready for it right now."