Comedian Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault in UK
Police say the charges relate to four separate women.
British actor and comedian Russell Brand was charged with rape and sexual assault, London’s Metropolitan Police said on Friday.
Brand was charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault. Police said the allegations involve four women, and include incidents spanning from 1999 to 2005 near Bournemouth in southern England and the Westminster area of London. Police didn’t name the women.
Brand is scheduled to appear in court on May 2.
My response. pic.twitter.com/wJMGxlwBh0
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) April 4, 2025
In a video response posted on X, Brand denied the allegations. “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity,” he said.
Police said they began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving several allegations. The probe followed the publication of reporting from the Times of London, the Sunday Times and Channel 4, which detailed abuse allegations from four women in incidents between 2006 and 2013. The Wall Street Journal, the Times of London and the Sunday Times are owned by News Corp.
The four women, who have remained anonymous, didn’t know each other and came forward independently after being approached by reporters.
Brand has called the accusations a co-ordinated attack, saying he was being persecuted for his political beliefs. He has been known for peddling conspiracy theories, including about Covid-19 vaccines.
Police said their investigation remains open.
Several sponsors distanced themselves from Brand after the allegations came to light, and YouTube restricted his channel, blocking him from making money on advertising. His YouTube channel currently has about 6.8 million subscribers.
Brand, who has acted in movies including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Despicable Me,” and “Arthur,” has been vocal about his struggles with addiction and his path to recovery.
Wall Street Journal
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