Overview

Russell Brand, the comedian and actor, has been formally charged with multiple sexual offenses, including rape, according to the Metropolitan Police in London [[2]], [[3]]. The charges stem from allegations dating between 1999 and 2005 and involve four separate women [[3]].

The Charges

The specific charges against Mr. Brand include:

• One count of rape in the Bournemouth area in 1999.
• One count of oral rape in Westminster, London in 2004. [[2]]
• One count of indecent assault in westminster, London in 2001.
• Two counts of sexual assault in Westminster, London between 2004 and 2005. [[2]]

Mr. Brand is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

The Investigation and Allegations

The charges follow a nearly 2-year investigation that began after several women accused Brand of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse in a joint investigation by *The Sunday Times*, *The Times*, and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023 [[1]].

Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), stated:

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.
Jaswant Narwal, Crown Prosecution Service

Ms. narwal added, We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

In November 2024, the CPS confirmed that the metropolitan Police had passed on an evidence file regarding the allegations.

Brand’s Response

Mr. Brand has previously denied the accusations. He stated that all of his sexual relationships were absolutely always consensual.

Corporate Investigations

Following the initial allegations in 2023, Channel 4 and Banijay UK, the production company behind some of Brand’s shows, launched internal investigations into his conduct. The BBC also requested a review of Brand’s time at the corporation.

The Dispatches program featured allegations from four women, detailing assaults that allegedly occurred between 2006 and 2013, a period when Brand worked for the BBC and Channel 4 and starred in Hollywood films.

Banijay UK’s investigation found that informally raised concerns about Brand’s behavior were not properly escalated or adequately addressed. Though, the Channel 4 investigation found “no evidence” that staff were aware of the accusations presented in the Dispatches program.

The BBC’s review, published in January, revealed that a number of people “felt unable to raise” concerns about Brand and believed he “would always get his way and therefore they stayed silent”.

Background on Russell Brand

Mr. Brand’s career has spanned various media platforms:

• He presented a BBC Radio 2 show from 2006 to 2008, leaving after a controversial incident involving a voicemail to actor Andrew Sachs.
• He hosted *Big Brother* spin-off shows, including *Big Brother’s Big Mouth* and *Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack*.
• He achieved recognition as a TV and film star.

Mr. Brand was married to U.S. pop singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012. He is currently married to laura Gallacher, with whom he has two children.