Russell Brand has been charged with multiple sexual offenses, following an 18-month investigation by the London Metropolitan Police.
The 50-year-old comedian and actor faces five charges: one count of rape, one count of oral rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault. The alleged incidents involve four women and took place between 1999 and 2005.
The charges stem from a joint investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times, which aired in September 2023. The exposé featured four women
whose identities remain confidential —accusing Brand of rape and sexual assault.
Their claims prompted a formal police inquiry.
At the time the allegations became public, Brand denied any wrongdoing, insisting his past relationships were “always consensual.”
Jaswant Narwal of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said prosecutors reviewed the evidence “carefully” before authorising charges.
“We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault,” Narwal said. She added that criminal proceedings are now active and emphasised Brand’s right to a fair trial.
Brand is expected to appear before a London court on May 2.
Once a fixture in British entertainment, Brand rose to fame through his provocative stand-up comedy and roles in radio, television, and film—including Get Him to the Greek.
He also chronicled his struggles with addiction in several memoirs and was briefly married to pop singer Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.
In recent years, Brand has retreated from mainstream platforms, building a large online audience through videos mixing wellness content, political commentary, and conspiracy theories. He has since relocated to the United States.