Russell Brand Charged with Rape and Sexual Assault Dating Back to 1999

Russell Brand has been formally charged with multiple sex offenses, including rape and indecent assault, following an 18-month investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police, authorities confirmed Friday.

Brand, 50, faces five charges involving four women, with alleged offenses occurring between 1999 and 2005 in Bournemouth and Westminster, London. The charges include:

• One count of rape (Bournemouth, 1999)

• One count of indecent assault (Westminster, 2001)

• One count of oral rape and sexual assault (Westminster, 2004)

• One count of sexual assault (Westminster, between 2004–2005)

The investigation was launched after allegations were reported in a joint investigation by Channel 4 and The Sunday Times in 2023. Since then, multiple U.K. media organizations, including BBC and Banijay UK, have conducted internal reviews related to Brand’s past work on their platforms.

Police said Brand has been issued a charge and requisition notice and is scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2. His current residence is listed as Oxfordshire, though he has recently lived and worked full time in the United States.

In a recent video posted to his Rumble channel, where he has over 1.4 million followers, Brand claimed he left the U.K. due to what he described as coordinated attacks by the media and government. U.K. authorities may now seek extradition through a formal request to the U.S. government, should Brand not return voluntarily.

“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” said DS Andy Furphy. Police have urged anyone with further information to contact their Central Investigative Team ([email protected]).

Brand has denied all allegations, stating that all his past sexual relationships were consensual. He also faces a separate U.S. civil lawsuit over an alleged assault on the set of the 2011 film Arthur.