Russell Brand Officially Charged With Rape and Sexual Assault in the U.K. — Comedian Denies All Allegations
Russell Brand has been formally charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, the U.K.’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Friday, following a lengthy investigation stemming from several disturbing allegations.
The 49-year-old former comedian and actor, once a fixture of British pop culture, is now facing five criminal charges, including:
One count of rape (1999, Bournemouth)
One count of indecent assault (2001, Westminster)
One count of oral rape (2004, Westminster)
Two counts of sexual assault (2004–2005, Westminster)
Brand is scheduled to appear in court on May 2, where he will formally respond to the charges.
The charges follow an extensive inquiry by London’s Met Police, which began in September 2023 after several women came forward with accusations—many of which were first made public in a joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times. The media exposé included reports from women alleging emotional abuse, manipulation, and in one case, a sexual relationship that began when the woman was 16 and Brand was 31.
In a video response posted to his social media accounts, Brand strongly denied all charges.
“I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” he said.
Brand used the nearly 6-minute clip to frame the charges within what he called a broader crisis of public trust in the U.K.’s legal system.
“We know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people, institutions, and sometimes entire nations that will not accept levels of corruption,” he said, before declaring, “I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord… but what I never was was a rapist.”
He ended the statement by thanking his supporters and saying he feels “incredibly grateful” to fight these charges in court.
Authorities have confirmed that the alleged victims continue to receive support from specially trained officers.
“The investigation remains open, and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the case.
The criminal investigation arrives amid growing scrutiny over Brand’s past conduct during the height of his fame. In addition to the new legal charges, internal investigations by Banijay U.K. and the BBC have revealed long-standing concerns about Brand’s behavior behind the scenes.
One BBC report cited incidents of alleged sexual misconduct between 2006 and 2008, including claims that Brand exposed himself to a woman in the BBC’s Los Angeles bureau. The broadcaster has since issued a public apology to its staff.
Brand, who was married to pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012, has pivoted in recent years toward wellness content, spirituality, and political commentary. Recently baptized and outspoken about his Christian faith, he continues to deny all allegations, maintaining that his past relationships were entirely consensual.