Russell Brand charged with rape, sexual assault
Russell Brand has been charged with five counts of rape and sexual assault by London's Metropolitan Police.
The charges were issued against the comedian on Friday, according to police. The charges include one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault.
The alleged incidents took place between 1999 and 2005, and were reported by four different women. Brand has previously denied the allegations, calling them "very, very hurtful."
He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 2 in relation to these charges.
As police explained in a press release, detectives began investigating Brand after allegations were made public by UK media outlets Channel 4 and The Sunday Times in September 2023.
The outlets launched a joint investigation into the allegations, resulting in a lengthy article on The Times' website, as well as an episode of Channel 4's documentary series, "Dispatches," called "Russell Brand: In Plain Sight." Both contained a number of anonymous complaints, with women accusing Brand of physical and emotional abuse and bullying, as well as some instances of sexual assault.
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Brand denied the claims shortly after they were made public, saying in a video statement shared on social media that his relationships were "always consensual."
The actor revealed that he received a few inquiries from media outlets with regard to "a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks."
"Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute," he said.
According to Brand, the encounters occurred during a "time of promiscuity" but were "always consensual." He also noted that he "was always transparent about that then, almost too transparent, and I am being transparent about it now as well."
"To see that transparency metastasized into something criminal, that I absolutely deny, makes me question: Is there another agenda at play?" he asked.
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While Brand did experience a period of promiscuity, which he has frequently been open about, he has been married to wife Laura Gallacher since 2017. The couple shares three children.
He was previously married to pop star Katy Perry, from 2010 to 2012.
The comedian and television presenter achieved mainstream success after appearing in 2008's "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" alongside Jason Segel and Kristen Bell. He followed up the successful film with starring roles in other comedies like "Get Him to the Greek" and "Arthur," but he has since stepped back from Hollywood.
Now, he seems to focus on podcasts, where he gives political and cultural commentary.
Fox News Digital's Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
