On May 30, 2025, British comedian and actor Russell Brand pleaded not guilty to five sexual offence charges at Southwark Crown Court in London. The charges include one count each of rape, oral rape, and indecent assault, as well as two counts of sexual assault. These allegations involve four women and pertain to incidents that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005 in locations such as Bournemouth and London .
The specific allegations encompass a rape in a Bournemouth hotel in 1999, an oral rape and sexual assault in London in 2004, and other instances of inappropriate conduct during that period. Brand, who is currently 49 years old, stood in court flanked by officers and responded “not guilty” to each charge. He has been released on conditional bail pending trial .
The investigation into these allegations was initiated following a 2023 exposé by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s “Dispatches,” which brought forth multiple claims of sexual misconduct against Brand. In response to the charges, Brand has publicly denied any wrongdoing, stating in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity” and describing his past behavior as that of a “fool” and a “sex addict,” but not a rapist .
The trial is scheduled to commence on June 3, 2026, and is expected to last between four to five weeks .