British police have charged comedian Russell Brand with rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault following an 18-month investigation into allegations made by four women. The charges were brought after Channel 4 and The Sunday Times published claims in September 2023, which Brand denies.
Brand, 50, faces one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape, and two of sexual assault. The alleged offenses took place between 1999 and 2005 and involve four women from the English seaside town of Bournemouth and central London.
The investigation remains open, with police urging anyone with relevant information to come forward. Brand has maintained his innocence, stating in a video posted on X that he “never engaged in non-consensual activity” and is looking forward to defending himself in court.
Brand’s case has sparked controversy, with the BBC previously apologizing to staff members who felt unable to complain about his conduct due to his celebrity status. He hosted two weekly radio shows on the BBC from 2006 to 2008 and worked on short-term projects.
The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that prosecutors carefully reviewed the evidence and concluded that Brand should be charged with the specified offenses. Brand is set to appear in a London court on May 2.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/uk-russell-brand-charges-police-778978fa21ab6c04eb8c953e2bd7c688