London, April 4 — British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been formally charged with rape and several other sexual offenses, according to a statement released Friday by the Metropolitan Police.
The charges relate to alleged incidents that took place between 1999 and 2005 and involve four different women. Brand, 50, is accused of one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault.
In a statement, Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), confirmed the authorization of the charges: “We have authorized the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offenses. The decision was made following a thorough review of evidence gathered during the police investigation.”
The investigation was launched after a joint media investigation by Channel 4’s “Dispatches” and The Sunday Times in September 2023. The documentary featured testimonies from women who accused Brand of sexual misconduct, leading to renewed scrutiny of his past behavior.
According to police, the alleged rape occurred in Bournemouth in 1999. The other incidents reportedly took place in London’s Westminster area between 2001 and 2005. One charge concerns an indecent assault in 2001, while the oral rape and sexual assault are alleged to have occurred in 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said the investigation remains ongoing and urged others who may have information to come forward. “We continue to appeal to anyone who may have been affected by this case or who has information to contact police,” Furphy said.
Brand is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
Once known for his provocative stand-up comedy and roles in films like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” Brand also gained international attention for his brief marriage to pop star Katy Perry. In recent years, he has reinvented himself as a wellness and social commentator through his YouTube and podcast platforms. He has denied all allegations against him.
