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Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges as U.K. trial gets date

BBG News

This week, the British humorist Russell Brand continued to reject allegations that he had sexually assaulted four women between the years of 1999 and 2005.

49-year-old actor, known for his role in the contentious film “Get Him to the Greek”, stood before a London court on Friday and denied charges of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault in four separate counts. Brand, who was indicted in April, declared “not guilty” following each charge read out in Southwark Crown Court. At the time of The Times’ request for comment on Friday, Brand’s legal representative had yet to respond.

Actor, famously recognized for his roles in bawdy comedies such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Rock of Ages,” and “Arthur,” made a not guilty plea several months following the announcement by British authorities regarding charges leveled against him.

Entertainment & Arts

British comedian-turned-commentator, Russell Brand, faces numerous charges related to sexual assault and rape, accusations that stem from events dating back as far as 1999 and extending until 2005.

The accusations originate from four distinct cases involving various women. It is claimed that Brand is accused of rape by a woman in the English coastal town of Bournemouth in 1999. Additionally, he has been charged with indecent assault against another woman in 2001, oral rape and sexual assault on a third woman in 2004, and sexual assault on a fourth woman between 2004 and 2005. The last three allegations are said to have taken place in Westminster, as reported by U.K. authorities.

At the time, Brand denied the allegations via social media.

In his Instagram and X post, he expressed that before finding the guidance of the Lord, he was not wise and had struggles with substance abuse and compulsive behavior. However, it’s important to note that he has never been involved in any nonconsensual activities or rape. He pleads for people to see this truth by looking into his eyes.

Prior to his indictment, Brand had already been confronted with accusations of rape and sexual assault in September 2023, following a joint investigation by The Times of London and “Dispatches,” a Channel 4 news program. Various women made claims that Brand had sexually assaulted them between the years 2006 and 2013. Initially, Brand denied the “extremely severe criminal allegations” and asserted that he was being singled out by the mainstream media due to his controversial opinions. In more recent times, Brand has rebranded himself as a critic of the establishment and has propagated conspiracy theories regarding vaccines and the 9/11 attacks.

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Over the weekend, Russell Brand underwent baptism as a means of finding comfort during the controversy surrounding rape and sexual assault allegations against him. In his own words, “This is the direction I’ve chosen for myself now.

In November of 2023, I found myself in a rather troubling situation as an actor, facing accusations of sexual assault in New York. A woman who had worked as an extra on my film “Arthur,” which was released in 2011, filed the lawsuit against me that month. Additionally, the BBC reported receiving numerous complaints about me, concerning inappropriate behavior during my tenure hosting radio programs from 2006 to 2008.

Over the past few years, Brand has shifted his attention towards religious matters as well. In 2024, he strengthened his dedication to Christianity by getting baptized in the River Thames. During this time, he expressed that it was a chance for him to let go of his past and be reborn anew under Christ’s name.

Upon reaching the courthouse on a Friday, Brand was spotted carrying a book titled “The Valley of Vision,” which is a compilation of Puritan prayer excerpts.

His trial is set to begin June 3, 2026, and is expected to last four to five weeks.

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2025-05-30 22:31

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