Russell Brand responds as he is charged with rape and sex crimes against four women

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Russell Brand has shared a response after being charged with rape by the Metropolitan Police.

The 50-year-old media personality has been charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault in four separate incidents spanning from 1999 to 2005.

Brand is charged with the rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area and the oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London.

The actor has now replied denying the claims saying he ‘never was a rapist.’

In a video posted on Instagram, he said: ‘I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had a wife and family, who are there just out of shot. I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord.

‘I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbicile but what I never was, was a rapist.

‘I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity, and I pray that you can see that in my eyes.’

His response also took aim at the government as ‘context’, and confirmed that his show will be returning on Monday.

He concluded: ‘Of course I’m now gonna have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that. In the meantime you lot, stay free and we will be continuing to discuss this matter, praise the Lord.’

The actor went on a rant about the British government in the video (Picture: Russell Brand)

Brand has also been charged with indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 and sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005.

Both of these incidents are also alleged to have taken place in Westminster, London.

He will appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 2.

Jaswant Narwal, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: ‘We have today authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Russell Brand with a number of sexual offences.

The charges against Brand relate to four different women (Picture: PA)

‘We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.

‘We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.

‘These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.

‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds everyone that criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial.

Brand has previously denied any non-consensual relationships (Picture: PA)

‘It is extremely important that there be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’

A statement from Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police who is leading the investigation said: ‘The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.’

What has Russell Brand been charged with?

Brand has been charged with:

The rape of a woman in 1999 in the Bournemouth area

Indecently assaulting a woman in 2001 in Westminster, London

The oral rape and sexual assault of a woman in 2004 in the Westminster area of London

Sexually assaulting another woman between 2004 and 2005 in Westminster, London

The investigation remains open and detectives have asked any affected or with information to come forward (Picture: PA)

DS Furphy added: ‘The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.

‘A dedicated team of investigators is available via email at [email protected]. Support is also available by contacting the independent charity, Rape Crisis at 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.”

Detectives started looking into Brand after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches in September 2023.

Brand has previously vehemently denied that he has had any non-consensual relationships.

The Rumble content creator, who is a vocal Trump supporter, moved to the US in recent months and is currently believed to be living in Florida.

After he was dismissed from his job as an MTV presenter in the early 2000s, he rose to fame in 2004 as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth, an E4 companion show to Big Brother at the height of its popularity.

Russell Brand rose to fame in 2004 by hosting a Big Brother spin-off show (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

He went on to present BBC 6 Music and later was moved to BBC Radio 2.

In 2008, calls he made to the late Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs on the show with Jonathan Ross prompted a huge scandal colloquially known as Sachsgate.

The phone calls involved leaving ‘lewd’ comments on Sachs’ answering machine and led to Ross’ suspension from the show and Brand quitting with the BBC eventually fined £150,000 by Ofcom for the ‘gratuitously offensive, humiliating and demeaning’ content.

The TV and radio star later apologised for the offence but questioned the pre-existing bias people had towards the BBC.

He had a high-profile marriage with pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012 (Picture: John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Brand’s most high-profile relationship is with pop singer Katy Perry whom he met at the MTV VMAs in 2009 and soon after proposed to in India. They were married from 2010 to 2012.

It came alongside the height of his Hollywood fame, starring in a slew of movies including the Despicable Me franchise, St Trinians, Rock of Ages and Arthur and Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

His latest IMDb credit is from 2023 where he voiced the character Mako in the animated film Under the Boardwalk.

In 2017, married Laura Gallacher – sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher – and the couple share three children together.

Last year, Brand announced he was joining Christianity and was baptised in the River Thames in a ceremony involving TV adventurer Bear Grylls.

Learn more about Rape Crisis England & Wales

Rape Crisis England & Wales is a feminist charity working to end rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse – and all other forms of sexual violence.

Whether it happened recently, or a long time ago; whether you know without a doubt that you experienced sexual violence, or aren't quite sure; whether it happened to you, or someone you know; Rape Crisis England & Wales will always believe you and listen to you, and they can offer you information and support.

You can find out more about Rape Crisis England & Wales here; and if you're aged 16 or over, you can call the charity's 24/7 support line for free on 0808 500 2222.

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