Note: The following article contains discussion of allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Russell Brand has been charged with rape, indecent assault and sexual assault, the Metropolitan police have said.
The charges relate to four separate women, between 1999 and 2005.
Detectives began investigating the comedian and actor in September 2023 after receiving a number of allegations. Brand has strongly denied the charges against him.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police who is leading the investigation said: “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.”
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According to The Metropolitan Police, Brand is accused of raping a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999 and indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001. He is also accused of orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in Westminster in 2004.
A fourth woman was allegedly sexually assaulted in Westminster between 2004 and 2005. The TV presenter has been told to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 2 May.
Brand has addressed the charges against him in a video shared to X. "I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was, was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity,” he said in the video while promoting his upcoming show and seemingly denouncing the British government and accusing the courts of corruption.
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.
"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."
The charges follow the publication of a 2023 investigation by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches that revealed multiple allegations against Brand. Brand denied these "serious criminal allegations" at the time in a video statement.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, you can access more information from Rape Crisis England and Wales, who work towards the elimination of all forms of sexual violence and sexual misconduct, on their website or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 0808 802 9999. Rape Crisis Scotland's helpline number is 08088 01 03 02.
Readers in the US are encouraged to contact RAINN, or the National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800-656-4673.
News Editor, Digital Spy
Emma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more.
Later specialising in multimedia entertainment news, Emma has brushed shoulders with numerous famous faces and interviewed the likes of Edward Norton, Margot Robbie, Sir Michael Palin, Rick Astley, and too many soap stars to count. Having produced a range of engaging news content over the years for brands such as 7Digital’s Entertainment News, Yahoo, and Express Online, Emma eventually joined Digital Spy in 2022 as Deputy News Editor, becoming Acting News Editor in 2023 and then News Editor in 2024.
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