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Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Brand to present himself
at the Central Criminal Court in central London on May 30 and
granted him bail on condition he keeps the court informed of
where he is staying, either in the U.K. or in the U.S. He
currently lives in Florida but is obliged to attend all future
court appearances. If he doesn't, he will face prison.
Brand, who was wearing an open shirt and jeans, listened
intently to the details of the charges as he sat in the dock. He
spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and that
he understood his bail conditions.
On his arrival at court as police tried to control the scrum, a
man shouted, “No one is above the law, Russell Brand!”
The comedian, author and “Get Him To The Greek” actor faces one
count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two
of sexual assault. The alleged offenses took place between 1999
and 2005 — one in the English seaside town of Bournemouth and
the other three in the Westminster area of central London.
In September 2023, British media outlets Channel 4 and the
Sunday Times published claims by four women of being sexually
assaulted or raped by Brand. The accusers have not been
identified.
Brand has been interviewed by police about the allegations,
which he denies.
Brand has denied engaging in “non-consensual activity.” In a
video posted on X after he was charged, Brand said he welcomed
the opportunity to prove his innocence.
Known for his unbridled and risqué standup routines, Brand
hosted shows on radio and television and wrote memoirs charting
his battles with drugs and alcohol. He has appeared in several
Hollywood movies and was briefly married to pop star Katy Perry
between 2010 and 2012.
In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream
media but has built up a large following online with videos
mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. He recently said he had
moved to the United States.
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