Brand rejects allegations in court
British comedian and actor Russell Brand told a jury in London that consent was central to his relationships as he denied allegations involving six women. Brand, 51, is facing seven charges: three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The allegations concern events said to have taken place between 1999 and 2009. Brand denies every charge. He gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, during the third week of the trial, after prosecutors concluded their case earlier that day.
Asked by his lawyer, Ian Winter, whether he had committed any of the alleged offences, Brand answered firmly in the negative. The jury has been told that the complainants approached detectives after a documentary aired in 2023, followed by newspaper reports carrying anonymous allegations from other women who are not part of the trial.
“No,” Brand said when asked whether he had committed any of the alleged crimes.
Prosecution allegations
Prosecutors have portrayed Brand as a sexual predator. Their case includes an allegation that he raped a woman after meeting her at an event connected to the Labour Party conference in 1999.
Other allegations relate to Brand’s work and public life in the entertainment industry. Prosecutors allege that he compelled a woman to perform oral sex in the toilets of a London bar in 2004, and that he molested another woman at a radio station in 2004 or 2005.
| Allegation | Reported setting or period |
|---|---|
| Rape | After a 1999 Labour Party conference event |
| Sexual assault | London bar and radio station, 2004 to 2005 |
| Attempted indecent assault | MTV Europe premises in London, 2001 |
| Rape | Brand’s home in 2009 |
| Sexual assault | Channel 4 recording project |
The prosecution also alleges that Brand tried to pull a woman into the men’s washroom at MTV Europe in London in 2001, where she was working. In another allegation, prosecutors say he anally raped a woman at his home in 2009 after she had agreed to consensual sex. A further claim concerns an assault involving a woman working at Channel 4 during a recording project.
Evidence about public fallout
While testifying, Brand described the consequences of the allegations for his personal and professional relationships. He said the effect had been “devastating”, telling the court that friends and colleagues had turned away from him.
Brand also said that no one was prepared to give evidence on his behalf. When Winter asked whether people would “touch you with a bargepole,” Brand replied: “No.” His evidence included a description of the way his public profile developed over time.
He told the jury that his 2010 marriage to U.S. singer Katy Perry brought him “staggering fame.” The marriage ended 14 months later. Brand had previously been a regular presence on British television and appeared in a number of Hollywood films.
How the case reached court
The allegations became the subject of criminal investigation after the 2023 documentary and newspaper reports. The complainants in the trial came forward to detectives after that coverage, while the jury was also told that other women made anonymous allegations that are not part of the proceedings.
Brand’s denial does not determine the outcome of the case. The jury must assess the evidence presented during the trial before reaching its verdict. The supplied court report does not indicate when deliberations will begin or provide any decision in the case.
