Comedian Russell Brand denies rape and sex assault charges in UK court
LONDON (Reuters) -British actor and comedian Russell Brand pleaded not guilty in a London court on Friday 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 U.S. 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 U.S., is due to stand trial in June 2026.
He spoke only to confirm his name and enter his five not guilty pleas, before leaving the court with his lawyer and some companions.
PREVIOUS DENIAL
After the charges were first announced, Brand said in a video posted on social media that in his younger days, before getting married and having children, he had been a fool and a sex addict but "what I never was, was a rapist".
In the 2000s, Brand was a regular on British screens, known for his flamboyant style and appearance.
He worked for the BBC and starred in a number of films including "Get Him to the Greek" before marrying Perry in 2010. They divorced 14 months later.
By the early 2020s, he had faded from mainstream culture, appearing primarily on his internet channel where he airs his views on U.S. politics and free speech.
In September 2023, the Sunday Times and Channel 4 TV's "Dispatches" show reported allegations of sex offences against him. Police began investigating some weeks later.
Brand, who said last year he had become a Christian, rejected those accusations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Billie Piper is the new Doctor as Ncuti Gatwa regenerates in Doctor Who finale
Actress Billie Piper will portray the new Doctor as Ncuti Gatwa is seen regenerating in the season finale of Doctor Who. Piper, 42, starred as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) Piper replaces Gatwa, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons in the science-fiction series. Born in Rwanda before moving to Scotland, the actor's time on the long-running science fiction programme came to an end as The Reality War episode brought this season to a close on Saturday. The two-part season finale saw the Doctor face the Rani in a battle to save the world after making the decision to safe the life of one little girl. As he bid farewell to companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, he said: 'I hope you'll see me again, but not like this.' The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwa's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
10 Ukrainian civilians killed in Russian air strikes, while Zelensky slams Russia for ‘not serious' peace talks
A barrage of Russian drone and missile attacks killed at least 10 civilians in Ukraine Saturday — including a 9-year-old girl — as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sowed new doubt whether Monday's peace talks in Istanbul will even take place. At least 32 people were injured in the attacks, as Russian troops launched more than 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine overnight into Saturday, the country's air force said. The young girl was killed by a Russian strike on the frontline village of Dolynka in the Zaporizhzhia region — a 16-year-old boy was also injured, regional officials confirmed. Advertisement 5 Rescuers work to put out a blaze at the site of a Russian drone strike in the Odesa region. via REUTERS Moscow said Saturday it had gained control of a village in the Donetsk region and one in northern Sumy, leading to mandatory evacuations in 11 Ukrainian settlements near the Russian border – bringing the total number of Sumy settlements under evacuation orders to 213. 5 Ukrainian rescuers worked to extinguish a fire in a trolleybus depot following a drone strike in Kharkiv overnight. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Zelensky also warned this week that Moscow was amassing more than 50,000 troops nearby in a sign of a possible offensive. In the southern region of Odesa, the attacks hit the town of Izmail, Ukraine's biggest port on the Danube River — infrastructure critical for the war-torn country's imports. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian leader cast uncertainty Saturday whether the planned peace talks scheduled for Monday in Istanbul, Turkey will happen, saying Kyiv is now preparing for 'new diplomatic steps' with Europe and the US. 'There is no clear information about what the Russians are going to Istanbul with. We don't have it, Turkey doesn't have it, the United States doesn't have it, and other partners don't either,' Zelensky said on Telegram. Advertisement 'It doesn't look very serious,' he said of the talks. 5 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is still uncertain Ukraine will attend the talks Monday. Getty Images Zelensky also rebuked Russia for failing to turn over negotiating documents ahead of the Monday meeting – a nonstarter for Kyiv. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov unilaterally announced the talks Wednesday, saying Moscow would present a memorandum towards a cease-fire then. Advertisement But Zelensky countered that the Kremlin's plans should be offered up ahead of time — and accused Moscow of 'doing everything it can to ensure' the meeting is 'fruitless.' 5 Police officers carry a part of a Russian drone after the overnight air strike in Kharkiv. REUTERS 'For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared,' he wrote on X Friday after hosting Turkey's foreign minister in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital city. Moscow had previously promised to present the document after last week's prisoner's exchange. Ukraine has sent its proposals to the US and Russia, which centers on 'a full and unconditional ceasefire.' 5 Growing increasingly impatient, President Trump gave Putin two weeks to prove he's serious about ending the war. POOL/AFP via Getty Images President Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on Wednesday gave the Russian leader two weeks to prove he's serious about ending the war. Advertisement The Kremlin's sweeping demands, according to sources, remain unchanged from even before Putin launched his brutal invasion in 2022 — barring Ukraine, and any country east of it, from joining NATO as well as lifting Western sanctions on Russia. Delegations from the two countries last met in Istanbul on May 16 but the session yielded little other than an agreement for the war's largest prisoner swap.
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Ginger Minj: Beyond the eye gloss, pancake and glitter
'Life should be a party, not a prison sentence. Wear too much blush, cover yourself in glitter and put on that damn tutu if it makes you feel like your fabulous self.' Ginger Minj, drag star extraordinaire, is talking about grabbing hold of life and shaking things up a bit. She's talking about putting on the big red wig and letting herself go wild on stage. She's talking about stepping out, being part of the party, not hiding in shadows, afraid of living life. 'My show is all about the songs and moments from my life that shaped me into the LGBTQ+ person that I am today.' But just a minute here. An alumni of series seven of superstar 'RuPaul's Drag Race,' Minj admits she's shy in real life. Who Ginger Minj Where Theatre Aquarius, 190 King William St. When Thursday, June 5, 7.30 p.m. Tickets Regular $55, VIP meet the star $75 plus fees and taxes. Call 905-522-7529 or boxoffice@ 'Some people would probably call me a wallflower. If I'm not writing music or shows or books, I'm cuddled up with the husband and dogs, watching the Food Network. 'You know, as a little country boy from a small Christian conservative town in North Florida, I never thought I'd have a clear path to my dreams, but 'Drag Race' gave me that, and I'll be forever grateful. It opened so many doors for me. I've done movies, theatre, written a book and toured the world several times over this past 10 years.' When you ask Minj where her stage persona came from, she's not shy about answering. Ginger Minj is a contemporary and bold image in a world of drag that has moved on from just being female imitation, Gary Smith writes. 'Ginger gave me my voice and the permission to speak up. I based her on all the church ladies I grew up around, the ones who would give you the shirts off their backs, but read you to filth for not having your own in the first place. What I do is sassy, it's dry, but it all comes from a place of love.' The thing is, Ginger Minj is a contemporary and bold image in a world of drag that has moved on from just being female imitation. 'Unlike a lot of drag artists from the past, my persona is more of a heightened, emboldened version of myself than a wholly separate character. Audiences can spot a phoney from a mile away, so I just try to be as open, honest and grounded as possible when I'm on stage, even in the midst of the most ridiculous situations. 'I'm an old-fashioned Broadway belter for sure, but I'm probably best known for my quick wit and work with the crowd. The best part of this job is getting to know new people every single day, and my favourite thing to do is banter with someone I don't know. It keeps the show fresh, fun and funny.' Once an actor in Christian films and chosen as Miss Gay United States in 2012, Minj admits she's sometimes performed in front of folks who were hostile to the notion of drag. 'My philosophy has always been to use my platform to change minds and curate conversation. Unless someone poses a threat to me, or the audience, I encourage them to think why they're feeling that way, when everyone else is having so much fun. I noticed when hosting 'Drag Race Live in Las Vegas' that the most hostile people at the beginning were the ones singing and cheering the loudest by the end.' Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's edict banning drag and woke shows at the Kennedy Center Theater in Washington, she's philosophical. 'People try to suppress what they don't understand and seeing people like us, living our best lives out loud, is frightening to folks who have spent their entire lives trying to blend in. I've grown up around these people and I've seen first-hand how earth-shaking it can be when they see someone, not just flaunting, but celebrating themselves, flaws and all.' But that's just one side of things. 'Let's make it clear, the world has loved RuPaul since the '90s. I think that's because she and other beloved queens have been unapologetically themselves for so long. What we do gives other people permission to put it all out there, laugh at themselves when needed, celebrate the flaws and live for the moment. 'Drag has been around for centuries and it's not going anywhere. Get on board and celebrate with us or stay miserable in your own little bubble.' Minj admires stars like Harvey Fierstein. 'He's so uniquely himself in and out of drag, demanding respect and attention at a time when that was truly taboo. I learned early on from him to be honest. If there's no space for you at the table, start your own banquet. I admire anyone who is willing to put on a wig and heels and hold their head high in public. It takes a lot of courage to stand out from the crowd and that's something that should always be celebrated and encouraged.' Offstage, Minj is Joshua Eads-Brown. 'I used to work hard to keep those two separate,' he says. 'However, since we appear out of drag for more than half of 'Drag Race' the audience gets to know both Joshua and Ginger beneath all the makeup. It was scary to blur those lines at first, but it's been a beautiful gift in the long run. 'The artistry is what gets people in the room, but the humanity, is what makes them stay.'
