Comedian Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sex assault charges in UK court
British actor and comedian Russell Brand on Friday pleaded not guilty in a London court to charges of rape and sexual assault relating to four women more than two decades ago.
Brand, once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters and former husband of US pop singer Katy Perry, appeared at Southwark Crown Court and denied all five criminal charges.
The 49-year-old has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations were first aired two years ago.
British prosecutors announced in April that Brand had been charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault against four women between 1999 and 2005.
Brand, who previously gave his address as being in England but also lives in the US, is due to stand trial in June 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
UK think tank calls for national strategy to tackle anti-Muslim hatred, rebuild social cohesion
LONDON: A new report from the think tank Equi released Monday has urged the UK government to adopt a coordinated national strategy to address anti-Muslim hatred, while warning that social division is harming trust in institutions and threatening the country's cohesion. Released as British Muslims marked Eid Al-Adha, the report highlighted growing levels of anti-Muslim narratives and attacks, but also pointed to polling by Savanta/ComRes that showed that the majority of Britons hold either neutral or positive views toward Muslims. A PDF Embed Here Equi argued that this provided a foundation for progress, and said that building trust, inclusion and civic resilience must be treated as a national priority. 'Britain's diverse and welcoming cultural identity is one of its greatest strengths. But we cannot leave social cohesion to chance,' said Prof. Javed Khan, managing director of Equi. 'Failing to address social division is not only unjust but fiscally draining, at a time when resources are scarce,' he added. The report identified anti-Muslim hatred as a key barrier to intercommunity trust, particularly in the aftermath of flashpoints such as the 2024 summer riots. It estimated the cost of anti-Muslim hatred last year at a minimum of £243 million ($328.9 million), including expenses linked to policing, imprisonment, and insurance claims. The report also pointed to alienating government policies, such as Prevent, and rising misinformation as major factors eroding social trust. Many British Muslims, it noted, feel disproportionately scrutinized and disconnected from wider society. Among its recommendations, Equi called for a strategic program of public awareness campaigns to counter misinformation and stereotypes, combined with cross-government engagement with local authorities, faith groups and civil society organizations to help rebuild trust. It also advocated for increased investment in youth and community initiatives that promoted shared experiences and inclusive participation as a means of strengthening intercommunity ties. 'Knowing most Britons are not getting sucked into divisive language that can destroy community relations should give us great hope. The government should use its unique platform to articulate a unifying vision for the nation; one that focuses not on responding to division, but on championing shared values like respect, equality and liberty,' Khan said. 'As Britain's 4 million Muslims celebrated Eid, this report provides a timely and urgent reminder that with clear focus and leadership, a stronger, peaceful and cohesive UK is within reach.'
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
ABC News suspends journalist who called Trump, top aide ‘world-class' haters
LONDON: ABC News has suspended one of its senior national correspondents after he published a series of now-deleted social media posts in which he described US President Donald Trump and top adviser Stephen Miller as 'world-class haters.' Veteran journalist Terry Moran, who recently interviewed Trump, wrote in the posts that both the president and the White House deputy chief of staff — known as the architect of the administration's mass deportation policy — were driven by deep animosity toward their political opponents. An ABC News spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed Moran's suspension 'pending further evaluation,' and said the network 'stands for objectivity and impartiality in its news coverage and does not condone subjective personal attacks on others.' The spokesperson added: 'The post does not reflect the views of ABC News and violated our standards.' Moran claimed in the tweets that Miller 'is not the brains behind' Trumpism, but rather someone who channels its 'impulses' into policy through sheer malice. He wrote: 'It's not brains. It's bile. Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred. He's a world-class hater.' Moran added: 'You can see that his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.' Turning to Trump, Moran wrote: 'Trump is a world-class hater. But his hatred (is) only a means to an end, and that end (is) his own glorification.' The posts sparked a backlash from conservative figures and further deepened tensions between ABC News, owned by The Walt Disney Company, and Trump's allies. The network last year agreed to pay $16 million to settle a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump over comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos, in what was seen as a rare concession by a major broadcaster. Reacting to Moran's comments, Vice President JD Vance called them a 'vile smear,' and added: 'It's dripping with hatred.' Miller also responded, saying: 'The most important fact about Terry's full public meltdown is what it shows about the corporate press in America. For decades, the privileged anchors and reporters narrating and gatekeeping our society have been radicals adopting a journalist's pose. Terry pulled off his mask.' Moran's posts came as the Trump administration, reportedly under Miller's strategic direction, ramped up rhetoric around immigration and called for expanded deportation efforts. Raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in recent weeks across major US cities, including Los Angeles, have reignited public protests. Some demonstrations outside the federal building in downtown LA have turned violent amid unconfirmed reports that detainees were being held inside. ABC News has not announced when or whether Moran will return to the network.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Nike cuts ties with Australian brand ambassador over pro-Palestinian posts
LONDON: Nike has ended its partnership with Australian brand ambassador Grace Tame after the activist shared several pro-Palestinian posts on social media. Tame, a long-distance runner and high-profile advocate for survivors of sexual assault, had used her platform in recent months to speak out against Israel's military campaign in Gaza, describing it as 'genocide' and calling for a ceasefire. The American sportswear giant confirmed the decision over the weekend, following growing speculation after it launched a review of Tame's public statements. A Nike spokesperson said on Friday: 'We've agreed to part ways. We wish Grace the best as she continues her running journey.' Tame signed a $100,000 ambassadorial deal with Nike in January, marking a return to the brand after a previous collaboration four years ago. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, Tame has shared posts and attended events expressing solidarity with Palestinians. In November, she signed a global ceasefire petition organized by Oxfam. In May, she gave a speech at an event hosted by the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, where she said: 'Empathy should have no boundaries.' Tame also revealed she had been asked not to speak about the war at other public engagements. Her increasingly vocal advocacy drew criticism from pro-Israel commentators in Australia, some of whom accused her of sharing inflammatory and antisemitic content. In May, Tame reposted a statement from Palestinian writer Mohammed El-Kurd criticizing Western media coverage of the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington. She quoted the post, which argued the incident was a direct response to Israel's assault on Gaza, rather than a random antisemitic attack. 'Even though it was undeniably, and by the alleged shooter's own admission, a response to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which killed one hundred and seven Palestinians in the last 24 hours alone,' she reposted to her 260,000 followers. Tame, no stranger to controversy, has long been a divisive figure in Australian public life. Earlier this year, she appeared at a public event with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wearing a T-shirt that read 'F**k Murdoch,' a jab at media mogul Rupert Murdoch. In the accompanying Instagram caption, she criticized what she called 'dynastically wealthy white supremacist corporate oligarchs ruining our planet, funding genocide, war, and destruction.' In response, Murdoch-owned The Australian accused her of being fixated on Israel and wrote that Nike's 'face-saving statement of a mutual separation with Tame is arguably misplaced in its generosity.' The newspaper also noted that all Nike stores in Australia are operated by Fox Group, an Israeli company listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, adding another layer to the fallout.
