British comedian and actor Russell Brand made a highly publicised appearance in a London court on Friday, facing five serious charges including two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. The 49-year-old star, who garnered international fame as the husband of pop star Katy Perry, arrived at the court amid a crush of media and onlookers.
Wearing a casually styled dark-coloured open-necked shirt and jeans, Brand moved slowly through the throng before confirming his details to the court. Following this brief interaction, he was ordered to return for a subsequent hearing scheduled for May 30. The charges against him come in the wake of a police investigation that was launched after a Channel 4 documentary detailing allegations against him was aired in September 2023.
In a video response released on X, Brand vehemently denied all allegations of wrongdoing. “I 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 non-consensual activity,” he asserted, expressing his gratitude for the chance to defend himself.
Among the historical allegations, he is also accused of indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another between 2004 and 2005, both incidents reportedly occurring in Westminster. The Metropolitan Police have stated that the investigation remains open and have urged anyone with further information to come forward.
Although Brand has spent part of his life in the United States, he also provided an address in Buckinghamshire, southern England. Born to working-class parents in Essex in 1975, Brand’s career took off as a provocative stand-up comedian in his teenage years. Over the years, he has transformed into a Hollywood celebrity and a polarising figure known for his anti-establishment views, amassing millions of followers on various social media platforms.
Brand boasts nearly 7 million YouTube subscribers, 11.3 million followers on X, and 4.8 million on Instagram. His career highlights include hosting a show on BBC Radio 2 from 2006 to 2008 and being a presenter on a Big Brother spin-off for several years. He is also known for writing for the left-leaning Guardian newspaper and publishing two autobiographies.
His brief marriage to Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 captured significant media attention, and he is currently married to author and illustrator Laura Gallacher, with whom he shares three children.