Russell Brand Suffers Major Setback As His Wellness Festival Gets Canceled Amid Rape Charges

Yahoo

24-05-2025

Russell Brand is reportedly no longer hosting a 2025 "Community" wellness festival, which was slated for July.
According to reports, the three-day event was quietly canceled, even though some tickets had already sold out to hundreds of eager participants.
The decision to cancel the program comes as the comedian faces legal troubles. Russell Brand has been accused of serious offenses by four women, with the alleged incidents occurring between 1999 and 2005.
In July, embattled comedian Russell Brand was set to host a three-day wellness event that would involve "camping, conversation on spirituality, wellness, healthy living, and our environment."
Hundreds of tickets to the event had already sold out to intending participants, with some priced as high as £210, although some early birds got them for £160.
Now, reports obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that the program has been quietly canceled, and links to the ticket pages are now defunct.
"Please note: this event has now been cancelled, more details may be contained in the event text below. If you have purchased tickets for this event, then please contact us on 0121 472 6688 or email [e-mail]," read a cancellation notice from one of the ticketing platforms.
Despite the notice indicating that the event will no longer be happening, Brand has yet to officially announce the decision on his social media pages or website.
In the meantime, the comedian has been occupied with his personal legal troubles with regard to multiple sexual accusations from his heyday in the entertainment industry.
On April 4, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had charged Russell with h rape, indecent assault, oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault related to accusations from four women.
"In 1999 a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area," read the statement from the authorities.
"In 2001, a woman was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London. In 2004 a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in the Westminster area of London. Between 2004 and 2005, a woman was sexually assaulted in the Westminster area of London."
At the time, the authorities also urged anyone "affected by this case by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward."
With regard to the charges, the comedian had a first hearing earlier this month, during which he was granted bail.
At the time, the charges against him were read out, which he listened to without showing any visible emotion. Suki Dhadda, the lead prosecutor in the case, also shared more details about the accusations.
According to the New York Times, she claimed that one of the women accused Brand of raping her in a hotel room during a British Labour Party conference in 1999, while another alleged that the comedian orally raped her in a bathroom stall at a party.
The third woman accused Brand of kissing her without consent and aggressively pressing his hand against her breast and buttocks.
At the end of the hearing, the case was referred to the Crown Court, with Brand scheduled to appear there on May 30.
While Brand is yet to formally enter any plea, he has already denied the charges on a number of occasions.
His most recent denial occurred in April, when he released a lengthy video statement on his Instagram page.
"We're very fortunate in a way to live in a time where there's so little trust in the British government," he began. "We're very fortunate, I suppose, that this is happening at a time where we know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people."
The comedian went on to describe his former self as a "fool," a "drug and sex addict," and even an "imbecile." However, he denied being a "rapist" and claimed that he has "never engaged in nonconsensual activity."
Speaking further, the "Get Him to the Greek" actor expressed that he felt "grateful" for the opportunity to argue his innocence at his future trial.
Brand's former roommate has now shared that the actor had a "different personality" take over when he did "something wrong."
Mark Pinheiro sat down in an interview with ABC News Juju Chang where he made the disturbing revelation, adding that he "wasn't surprised" when the embattled actor was hit with five counts of assault and rape in the U.K. back in April.
Recalling what it was like living with Brand, Pinheiro said, "If Russell knows he's doing something wrong, something naughty, something illegal, whatever it might be, if you challenge him about it afterward, this personality would take over, the eyes go dead, the voice goes monotone."
"So, it was never him that was doing it, it was this personality that would take over, and that's the person that would be doing these things," per People.