Russell Brand Issues Plea On Serious Charges

Former actor and comedian turned podcaster Russell Brand pleaded not guilty to two charges of sexual assault, including one of rape, in London's Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday (February 24), ABC News reports.

Brand, 50, was reported to be facing new charges of rape and sexual assault after two more women came forward with accusations against him, the Metropolitan Police Department of Greater London announced in a news release shared on December 23. The podcaster was charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault added to his previous charges of two counts rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault handed down in April stemming from accusations from two other women.

Detectives initially received a number of allegations against Brand in September 2023 alleging that he raped a woman in the Bournemouth area in 1999; indecently assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2001; orally raping and sexually assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London in 2004; and sexually assaulting a woman in the Westminster area of London between 2004 and 2005, according to the news release.

“The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers," the department said.

Brand, who appeared at Turning Point USA's America Fest 2025 event one week prior to his latest charges, had previously addressed the prior allegations against him in April.

“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,” Brand said in a video on his Instagram account with "My response" as its caption. “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

“I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” he added.

The Metropolitan Police Department of Greater London confirmed that the investigation into allegations against Brand was ongoing when the charges against him were announced in December.