Russell Brand faces UK court over rape, sexual assault charges

Russell Brand is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after being charged with rape, oral rape, indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault, involving alleged incidents with four women between 1999 and 2005. The charges follow a Metropolitan Police investigation that began after allegations were made public in a 2023 joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches, The Times, and The Sunday Times. Brand has publicly denied all allegations, stating he has never engaged in non-consensual activity and welcomes the opportunity to defend himself in court. The Crown Prosecution Service stated it had carefully reviewed evidence from the police investigation before authorizing the charges. The Metropolitan Police have encouraged anyone with additional information to come forward as their investigation remains ongoing. Brand, who has shifted his public presence from mainstream media to online platforms in recent years, maintains his innocence and has addressed the charges in social media statements.