Sergei Polunin, the former Royal Ballet star often labelled the dance world’s “bad boy”, has drawn fierce criticism after describing convicted rapist Russell Brand as a “national treasure”.
Polunin, who became the youngest male principal dancer in the Royal Ballet’s history when he joined the company aged 20 in 2010, has declared his “full support” for the disgraced comedian, who was jailed last week for 10-and-a-half years.
The 36-year-old dancer, who welcomed a daughter with his wife, Russian figure skater Elena Ilinykh, said earlier this year that he had “the pleasure” of watching Brand rehearse and perform before speaking with him.
On Saturday, Polunin posted a black-and-white photograph of Brand sitting on a stool on Instagram. In an effusive caption, he described the comedian as “very polite, very clever” and “geniusly” talented.
He wrote: “When people are at his level of fame, women just throw themselves at you. I saw it when I hung out with Mickey Rourke — different women would try to sit on his lap every minute.”
He continued: “When someone has a threesome with rock star Russell Brand, then wants to have sex again but does not like anal sex the second time, that is not a prison sentence.”
“He is a father, a loving husband, a super talent and a British treasure. Friends who are trying to distance themselves from him are rats.”
The post was quickly met with anger from Polunin’s 194,000 Instagram followers, many of whom said they intended to unfollow the award-winning ballet dancer.
Sergei Polunin, who became the youngest male principal dancer to join London’s Royal Ballet at 20 in 2010, has pledged his “full support” for Russell Brand, who was jailed last week for 10-and-a-half years for rape and sexual assault. Polunin is pictured in 2019.
Polunin, pictured as Grigori Rasputin at London’s Palladium in 2019, called the disgraced comedian a “national treasure” who was “very polite and very clever”.
One follower wrote: “Your vibe attracts your tribe. What an enlightening insight. Unfollow.”
Another commented: “WTAF — talking about picking the wrong side of history.”
A third wrote: “Wow. So disappointing. I was mesmerised when I saw Dancer. I couldn’t be more let down by this post. What are you thinking? You have a daughter, right?”
Polunin entered London’s Royal Ballet School at the age of 13 in 2003 and rapidly progressed to become a principal dancer.
After leaving London in 2012, he became a principal dancer at Moscow’s Stanislavsky Music Theatre and the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet.
Polunin became an online sensation in 2014 after releasing a self-choreographed performance set to Hozier’s hit song Take Me to Church.
Two years later, the dancer’s life was explored in the acclaimed documentary Dancer, in which he spoke of his dissatisfaction with the Royal Ballet.
In 2019, the Paris Opera Ballet withdrew an invitation for Polunin to perform in Swan Lake after he posted a series of homophobic and sexist remarks on social media.
Brand, pictured on the Jonathan Ross show in 2008, was jailed last Monday after being convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Polunin’s post came as Mia Fetter, 37, became the first of Brand’s accusers to waive her anonymity. She said Brand groomed her when she was 16 and he was 30.
In a post that was later deleted, Polunin wrote that gay men “need a good slap”. He added: “Men are wolves, are lions. Men are the leaders of the family.”
He also targeted overweight people, writing: “Let’s slap fat people when you see them. It will help them and encourage them to lose some fat. No respect for laziness.”
Polunin later became a prominent supporter of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, raised money for Russian troops and backed the Russian president in the 2024 election.
He was subsequently granted Russian citizenship and renounced his Ukrainian heritage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky formally stripped Polunin of his Ukrainian citizenship in October 2025.
However, Polunin announced in 2024 that he and his family were leaving Russia. The decision was reportedly prompted by a series of sinister packages delivered to their home.
Some believe the scooter bombing of senior Russian general Igor Kirillov by Ukrainian agents in central Moscow heightened the dancer’s concerns.
Polunin’s comments came as a woman who says Brand groomed her when she was 16 and he was 30 became the first of his accusers to waive her anonymity.
Mia Fetter, 37, accused Brand of forcing her against the headboard of his bed and orally raping her after they met when she was a schoolgirl in 2006.
She said she had decided to speak publicly while campaigning for a staggered age of consent that would prohibit relationships between adults and people under 18.
On Friday night, eight more women came forward with allegations of sexual abuse and predatory behaviour against the 51-year-old.
Brand could now face a second trial, with detectives examining information from more than half a dozen new complainants who contacted police after his conviction earlier this week.
Police are also completing files of evidence sent to the Crown Prosecution Service concerning claims from two additional women, including an allegation that Brand raped a 16-year-old.