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.
Hours after the news broke of his charges, Brand took to social media to firmly deny any wrongdoing.
RUSSELL BRAND ACCUSED OF RAPE, SEXUAL ABUSE OF 4 WOMEN; COMEDIAN DENIES ‘SERIOUS CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS’
Comedian Russell Brand has been charged with five counts of rape and sexual assault. (Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy )
In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Brand thanked his fans for messages of support, then criticized the British government and legal system before addressing the charges directly.
He explained that he “was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity, I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
Brand added, “Of course, I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
He wrapped up his video by assuring his followers that he’d continue to address the allegations against him.
Russell Brand adamantly denied the charges in a video shared on social media Friday. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
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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Russell Brand has previously denied any allegations of sexual assault. (Getty Images)
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.”
Russell Brand is currently married to Laura Gallacher, and the couple share three children. (Getty Images)
“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.
Russell Brand was also accused of sexual harassment and bullying in a 2023 documentary called “Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.” (Carl Court/Getty Images)
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.
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Now, he seems to focus on podcasts, where he gives political and cultural commentary.
Fox News Digital’s Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
