Photo Credit: Getty Images
British comedian and actor Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to five serious charges, including rape, oral rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault, during a court appearance at Southwark Crown Court in London. The 49-year-old appeared in court dressed in a dark suit and a partially unbuttoned pinstripe shirt, entering pleas of "not guilty" to all charges. He confirmed his name and remained composed throughout, later thanking the usher and walking out wearing sunglasses.
The charges stem from alleged incidents involving four women between 1999 and 2005, occurring in central London and Bournemouth. The Metropolitan Police allege that one woman was raped in Bournemouth in 1999, while another was indecently assaulted in Westminster in 2001. A third woman claims she was orally raped and sexually assaulted in Westminster in 2004, and the fourth alleges that she was sexually assaulted in 2004 or 2005.
Specific accusations include Brand allegedly grabbing a woman's arm and attempting to drag her towards a male toilet in 2001, and another incident where a woman claims he kissed and groped her without consent. These allegations surfaced following a joint investigation in September 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4's "Dispatches."
In response to the charges, Brand has continued to assert his innocence. After being formally charged in April, he posted a video denying the accusations: "I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that." He added that he had "never engaged in non-consensual sexual activity."
Brand, originally from Essex, rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and presenter, gaining prominence on shows such as Big Brother's Big Mouth and BBC Radio 2. He later moved into acting, starring in Hollywood films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. In recent years, he has rebranded himself as a social commentator, gaining a large following online, especially on YouTube, where he has nearly 6.8 million subscribers.
A pre-trial review has been scheduled for May 20, 2026, with the trial set to commence on June 3, 2026. Brand remains on conditional bail.
