Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been formally charged with rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. The charges relate to alleged offences involving four separate women, spanning from 1999 to 2005. Brand, 50, faces one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. He is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 2 May.
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The allegations against Brand came to light following a joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, which aired in September 2023. Following the broadcast, several women came forward with accusations, prompting a police inquiry. According to the Metropolitan Police, one woman alleges she was raped in Bournemouth in 1999, while another claims she was indecently assaulted in Westminster in 2001. Further allegations include oral rape and sexual assault in Westminster in 2004, as well as an additional sexual assault in Westminster between 2004 and 2005.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, stated that the women who have reported these incidents are receiving support from specially trained officers. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reviewed the evidence and authorised the charges. Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, confirmed: “We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault.”
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Brand, who first gained fame as a comedian and television presenter, later transitioned into film and online media. He has previously denied all allegations of rape, assault, and emotional abuse. Since 2023, he has focused on his digital presence, amassing millions of followers across YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms. The Metropolitan Police have urged anyone affected by this case or with additional information to come forward. Brand’s legal team has yet to comment publicly on the charges.
