Russell Brand Charged with Rape and Sexual Assault: U.K. Police

Comedian Russell Brand has been formally charged with rape and sexual assault in connection with five offenses involving four women. The charges were announced on April 4, 2025, by London’s Metropolitan Police.

Photo via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Details of the Charges

Brand, 49, faces a range of charges, including one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. These offenses are alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2005. The charges follow an investigation launched by the police in September 2023, after several women came forward with allegations.

The women, who have not been named, allege incidents in various locations across London and Bournemouth. The first alleged rape occurred in Bournemouth in 1999, while the other incidents took place in Westminster between 2001 and 2005.

The Investigation and Documentary Impact

The charges stem from a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches in September 2023. This investigation highlighted allegations from four women who accused Brand of sexual assault or rape between 2006 and 2013.

Following the release of a 90-minute documentary detailing these allegations, Brand’s talent agency severed ties with him, and his tour was suspended. The police also appealed for other potential victims to come forward.

Brand, known for his stand-up comedy and acting career, has previously denied all allegations. He has stated that while he was “very promiscuous,” all of his relationships were “absolutely, always consensual.”

Upcoming Court Appearance

Brand is set to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on May 2, 2025. Although authorities have not confirmed his exact whereabouts, it is believed that he is currently residing in the United States.

Background on Russell Brand

Russell Brand rose to fame in the mid-2000s as a stand-up comedian and television star in the U.K., before achieving Hollywood success in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In recent years, Brand has garnered a large following on platforms like YouTube, where he discusses wellness and various conspiracy theories.

His shift from entertainer to social commentator has drawn both support and criticism, particularly in right-wing circles in the United States, where he appeared at the Republican National Convention in 2024.

More…