TO ROOST: – Actor and comedian Russell Brand was today charged with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault against four women. Detectives began an investigation after 50-year-old Brand was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse by several women in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.
The Metropolitan Police have now charged Brand – who lives in Florida – by post with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four different women, and issued a court summons.
Brand has previously denied the accusations, and said all his sexual relationships were ‘absolutely always consensual’. The alleged incidents took place between 1999 and 2005, and Brand is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
He is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London. Brand was also charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005. Both offences are alleged to have taken place in Westminster.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police said today: ‘The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.
‘The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police. A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at CIT@met.police.uk.
‘Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.’
Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences.
‘We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.
‘We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault. These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.
‘He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing on Friday 2 May 2025. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
In November 2024, the CPS confirmed that detectives from the Metropolitan Police had passed on an evidence file regarding sex offence allegations against Brand.
The actor has previously denied wrongdoing and stated that all his sexual relationships were ‘absolutely always consensual’.
At the time of the alleged offences, Brand was at the height of his stardom, working for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 as well as appearing in Hollywood films.
Despite no longer being a prominent figure in mainstream film, television or radio, Brand turned to online platforms and has embraced an anti-establishment narrative in recent years.
Brand’s following current stands at 6.8million subscribers on YouTube, 11.3million followers on X and 4.8million followers on Instagram.
During the pandemic he regularly covered topics such as alleged misinformation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic and being an outspoken sceptic of the vaccine.
The star married Laura Gallacher, the sister of presenter Kirsty, in 2017 and the couple have had three children.
In recent months Brand has talked about his newfound Christian faith, and he was baptised in the River Thames by TV adventurer Bear Grylls in April last year. In February it was revealed he had moved from his Oxfordshire home to the US, and he is thought to have settled in Florida.
By MARK DUELL and GEORGE ODLING for Daily Mail – PUBLISHED: 4 April 2025 |
PRAISE THE LORD INDEED: Actor and comedian Russell Brand has spoken out after being charged with rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault against four women, stating he has ‘never been a rapist’.
Brand hit out at the serious allegations against him, accusing the government of turning the law into ‘a weapon’, before repeating previous denials that he has ever engaged in non-consensual sex.
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter on Friday afternoon, Brand thanked fans for their support and said he would fight the claims in court.
‘I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile,’ he said.
‘But what I never was, was a rapist. I have never engaged in non-consensual activity – I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.’
In the video posted to X on Friday, Brand claimed that the law was being used as a weapon against people who would not tolerate corruption.
After denying his guilt of the sex offences, he added: ‘I want to thank all of you for all your continuing support.
‘I want to let you know that our show will be on Rumble on Monday, thanks for your support there, and of course I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
‘In the meantime you lot, stay free and we will be continuing to discuss this matter. Praise the Lord.’
It comes after Brand attended a record reveal party for prominent Christian worship singer Brandon Lake in Charleston, South Carolina on Wednesday.
Appearing on stage together, Brand told Lake that he was ‘so honoured’ to be there and the ‘palpable presence of the Lord is a glory to behold’.
Brand added: ‘Man, I really admire you because I don’t think it’s very easy to live in a commercial space, to be an entertainer, and remain aligned with the Lord.
‘It seems like a place that’s fraught with temptation and spiritual warfare and I think that all of us – particularly someone like me who has come to Christ very recently…
‘I can feel that there is a lot of change and a lot of transformation and I feel blessed to be in a community of people that are able to hold this incredible amount of change.’
By ELIZABETH HAIGH and MARK DUELL and GEORGE ODLING
PUBLISHED: 17:03 BST, 4 April 2025 |
Russell Brand’s statement in FULL
Taking to X, formerly Twitter with a video on Friday, Russell Brand said:
‘Hello. Firstly thank you for these incredible and overwhelming messages of support.
‘We’re very fortunate in a way to live in a time when there is so little trust in the British Government.
‘We’re very fortunate I suppose that this is happening at a time when 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 and tolerate levels of corruption that are unprecedented.
‘I’m speaking particularly to those of you who are watching this in the UK.
‘How do you feel about your legal system right now? How do you feel about some of the high-profile cases that are not being pursued and prosecuted?
‘How do you feel that the Southport murders were handled? How do you feel about the Government of Keir Starmer?
‘Now that’s just sort of general context.
‘Me, I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family who are just out of shot over there, my beautiful children, I was a fool, man.
‘I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict and sex addict and an imbecile.
‘But what I never was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.
‘I want to thank all of you for all your continuing support. I want to let you know that our show will be on Rumble on Monday, thanks for your support there, and of course I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
‘In the meantime you lot, stay free and we will be continuing to discuss this matter.
‘Praise the Lord.’
Apr 04, 2025 5:08:09 pm
