Trigger Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault, rape, and indecent assault
Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to five serious sexual offence charges during a court appearance in London on Friday. The 49-year-old comedian and actor formally denied accusations of rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault brought against him in relation to incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2005.
Appearing at Southwark Crown Court, Brand said “not guilty” as each of the five charges was read aloud. The alleged offences involve four women and span multiple locations, including London and the seaside town of Bournemouth. The most serious charge relates to an alleged rape at a hotel during the 1999 Labour Party conference. Other incidents reportedly took place in television and radio studios, involving women who worked in or around the media industry at the time.
Wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt under a grey blazer, Brand left the courtroom without speaking to reporters. He remains on conditional bail until his trial, which is scheduled to begin on 3 June 2026 and is expected to last four to five weeks.
The charges against Brand follow an investigation conducted by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times in 2023, in which multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct and assault during the height of his career in British media.
The incidents reportedly occurred while Brand was rising to fame as a provocative radio and television host. He gained national attention as the presenter of Big Brother’s Big Mouth and a BBC Radio 2 show, and later transitioned into Hollywood roles in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
Among the allegations, one woman claims she was raped in a Bournemouth hotel room in 1999 after meeting Brand at a comedy event. Another alleges he tried to drag her into a men’s toilet at a London television station in 2001. Two further accusers say Brand forcibly groped and kissed them in 2004 and 2005, with one woman describing being pushed against a wall and touched without consent at a radio station.
Due to UK legal protections, the identities of the alleged victims remain confidential and protected for life.
Online Transformation and Public Denial
Since stepping back from mainstream entertainment, Brand has rebranded himself as a wellness and spirituality influencer with a substantial online following. His recent content often includes religious messages, conspiracy theories, and critiques of the media and pharmaceutical industries.
Brand has strongly denied all allegations against him, both in court and publicly. After charges were announced earlier this year, he posted a video to his social media channels declaring his innocence and framing the accusations as a spiritual trial.
“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord,” he told followers. “I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist.”
He added: “I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
As he arrived at court on Friday, Brand carried a copy of The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers, and did not speak to the press. On Monday, ahead of the hearing, he posted a five-minute prayer video to his social channels with the caption: “Jesus, thank you for saving my life.”
Brand’s legal team has not made a formal statement since Friday’s plea. The case will continue next summer, with widespread public attention expected as it unfolds.
