Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault in UK court
Russell Brand pleaded not guilty in a London court on Friday to charges of sexual assault and rape dating back to the late 1990s.
Brand, a controversial comedian and podcast host, denied on May 30 all five criminal charges, which relate to four women more than two decades ago. The 49-year-old has consistently denied having nonconsensual sex since allegations were first aired two years ago.
Brand, who previously gave his address as being in England but also lives in the U.S., is due to stand trial in June 2026.
The comedian and actor was charged by London's Metropolitan Police last month with with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Russell Brand charges include rape
Detectives in the U.K. began investigating Brand in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations, a release from authorities revealed at the time. Brand later took to Instagram to respond to the charges.
"We're very fortunate in a way to live in a time where there's so little trust in the British government," he told followers in a video statement. "We're very fortunate, I suppose, that this is happening at a time where we know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people."
The charges stem from a series of alleged incidents in the late 1990s and early 2000s: a rape in 1999, an incidental assault in 2001, an oral rape and sexual assault in 2004 and another sexual assault between 2004 and 2005, according to Metropolitan Police.
Who is Russell Brand?
Brand, known for his comedy chops, starred in hit films like "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Arthur," and he was briefly married to pop star Kary Perry before the pair filed for divorce in 2011.
Long a controversial figure, Brand has fallen out of public grace amid reports of alleged rape and assaults. In the years since he has taken a religious turn, announcing plans last year to be baptized and using his social media to dip into conspiracy circles, spreading unfounded theories on topics ranging from 9/11 to the COVID vaccine.
"I've always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had my wife and family … I was a fool, man," Brand continued in his Instagram statement, saying he was a drug and sex addict and even an "imbecile," but never a rapist.
"I've never engaged in nonconsensual activity, I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes," the actor continued, saying he felt "grateful" he would have the opportunity to defend himself in court.
Russell Brand rape, assault charges follow BBC apology
The charges against Brand follow a formal apology given by the BBC to employees in January over its handling of harassment complaints against the comedian during his tenure at the network.
The British news organization published the results of a review into Brand's conduct, revealing that power dynamics at play created a breeding ground for Brand's "unacceptable" behavior.
Brand, who served as a presenter on BBC's 6 Music and Radio 2 between 2006 and 2008, first fell under scrutiny in 2023 after a spate of women accused the actor of emotional and sexual abuse.
The accusations of wrongdoing at the BBC included Brand exposing his genitals to a woman in a bathroom shortly before recording a segment for his radio show in which he joked about the encounter. The woman was not a BBC employee but worked in the same building as the company's Los Angeles bureau.
Another claim, made by a woman who said she had a three-month relationship with Brand when he was a presenter for Radio 6, alleges he used to have a car pick her up at school or her grandmother's house and bring her to his home. She was 16 at the time while Brand would have been in his 30s.
"What is clear is that many BBC staff and freelancers, especially in more junior roles, found Russell Brand demanding and difficult to work with and his behavior extreme, but all felt that there was no point in complaining as they believed they would not be listened to and, rightly or wrongly, that Russell Brand as a high-profile presenter had the support of the station management," wrote Peter Johnston, the BBC Director of Editorial Complaints and Reviews.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.
Contributing: Sam Tobin, Reuters