Latest news with #Dispatches'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Brand Pleads Not Guilty to Charges of Rape and Sexual Assault in London Court Hearing
Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and sexual assault. The comedian and actor appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Friday for a hearing where he formally denied all five charges against him, including one allegation of rape, one allegation of indecent assault, one of oral rape and two further counts of sexual assault. The alleged incidents relate to four separate women in incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2005. More from Variety Russell Brand Granted Bail After First London Hearing Over Rape, Sexual Assault Charges as Judge Sends Case to Central Criminal Court Russell Brand Outtakes From 2011 Film 'Arthur' Reportedly Offered by Warner Bros. as Part of Civil Sexual Assault Case in New York Russell Brand Denies Rape Charges: 'I Was a Drug and Sex Addict' but 'I Never Was a Rapist' The 49-year-old will now face a trial, which due to court delays won't begin until June 3, 2026. Wearing sunglasses, an open pin-stripe shirt, jacket and skinny jeans, Brand arrived early Friday morning flanked by his lawyer Oliver Schneider-Sikorsky — who successful defended Kevin Spacey against sexual assault allegations in 2023. The hearing lasted a matter of minutes. Brand was charged by London's Metropolitan Police in early April following an investigation that began in September 2023. He first appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on May 2, where the chief magistrate granted him bail and, due to the severity of the allegations, referred the case to London's Central Criminal Court. The venue was later changed to the Crown Court, where Spacey's trial took place two years earlier. After the charges were first brought, Brand — now living in the U.S. — took to his social media channels to deny the allegations, as he has since they first arose. 'When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool, was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile,' he said in a video. 'But what I never was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.' The Met investigation was first launched after the police received several allegations in the wake of a major investigation made by both Channel 4's 'Dispatches' documentary series and The Sunday Times. The 2023 expose saw Brand accused of 'rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.' A rep for the show said that 'Five women, four of whom asked to remain anonymous, agreed to share their stories of serious sexual allegations in the program.' The plea of not guilty plea at Southwark marks the next chapter for Brand. While his star-power had already dimmed long before the allegations came to light, he was a major figure on British TV and radio in the mid-2000s and would later find fame and fortune in the U.S. thanks to movies such as 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Get Him to the Greek,' not to mention a high-profile if short-lived marriage to Katy Perry between 2010 and 2011. Since moving out of the mainstream limelight a decade ago, he began amassing a following online for his political views, first on the left-wing before shifting to the right, using his YouTube and Rumble channels to post about conspiracy theories, most notable connected to COVID, and offer his support for Donald Trump, whose inauguration he attended in January. Months after the expose ran in late 2023, Brand also converted to Christianity and has been outspoken about his new faith. Last year he prayed on stage with Tucker Carlson and later Jordan Petersen at events in the U.S. Earlier this month, Carlson went on social media to call for the Trump administration to 'rescue' Brand from what the rape and sexual assault charges he described as 'political and absurd.' Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Daily Maverick
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Comedian Russell Brand arrives at UK court to face rape and sex assault charges
British actor and comedian Russell Brand arrived at a London court on Friday to face chargesof rape and multiple counts of sex assault in cases relating to four separate 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, has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations about him were first aired two years ago. The 49-year-old comedian, wearing sunglasses and a dark shirt unbuttoned to his chest, slowly picked his way through a throng of reporters and cameramen into Westminster Magistrates' Court without speaking. London police charged Brand on April 4 with rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault involving the four women between 1999 and 2005. After the charges were announced, Brand said 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'. 'I have never engaged in non-consensual activity,' he said in a video statement. 'I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that.' 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 newspaper and Channel 4 TV's documentary show 'Dispatches' reported allegations of sex offences against him, and London police opened an investigation some weeks later. Brand, who said last year he had become a Christian, rejected those accusations. 'These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I've written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous,' he said.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Brand Granted Bail After First London Hearing Over Rape, Sexual Assault Charges as Judge Sends Case to Central Criminal Court
Russell Brand has been granted bailed after appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court, charged with multiple sexual offences including rape. Brand arrived on Friday morning to a scrum of photographers. He wore sunglasses, an open black shirt and slim-fitting trousers and remained quiet as he entered the building. More from Variety Russell Brand Outtakes From 2011 Film 'Arthur' Reportedly Offered by Warner Bros. as Part of Civil Sexual Assault Case in New York Russell Brand Denies Rape Charges: 'I Was a Drug and Sex Addict' but 'I Never Was a Rapist' BBC Apologizes to Staff as Russell Brand Investigation Reveals Allegation That Comedian Exposed Himself Was 'Joked About' Inside courtroom number 1, he confirmed his name and date of birth to Senior District Judge Paul Goldsprin, before the individual charges were read out. As had been expected given the severity of the allegations, Goldspin referred the cast to London's Central Criminal Court, where he's next due to appear on May 30. He was granted bail, but was asked to provide both his U.S. and U.K. addresses and warned about the consequences should he not appear. When asked if he understood, he simply replied 'Yes.' The charges, which were brought last month, relate to four separate women and incidents that took place between 1999 and 2005. Among them are the allegations that in 1999 a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area of the U.K., that a woman was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London in 2001 and that a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in 2004, also in the Westminster area. Between 2004 and 2005, it's also alleged that a woman was sexually assaulted in the Westminster area. Brand has previously denied allegations against him and stressed all his relationships were consensual. At the time the charges were brought, the police said they had begun their investigations in late September having received several allegations in the wake of a major expose undertaken by both Channel 4's 'Dispatches' documentary series and the Sunday Times. Shortly after the news of the charges broke, Brand — who now lives in the U.S. — addressed the allegations in a social media video. 'When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool, was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile,' he said. 'But what I never was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.' The 2023 expose — which included a 90-minute documentary and article in the Sunday Times — saw Brand accused of 'rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.' A rep for the show said that 'five women, four of whom asked to remain anonymous, agreed to share their stories of serious sexual allegations in the program.' Best of Variety Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025
Hans India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Russell Brand reaches London court for first hearing on rape, sexual assault case
London: Actor-comedian Russell Brand reached the London's Westminster Magistrates Court to face charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police. Brand arrived wearing sunglasses, an open black shirt and slim-fitting trousers. He remained quiet as he entered the building, reports Inside the courtroom, Brand confirmed his name and date of birth before the individual charges were read out. The first hearing is expected to see the case, given the serious nature of the accusations, referred to the Crown Court for a trial to start at a later date, reports The charges, which were bought last month, relate to four separate women and incidents that took place between 1999 and 2005. Among them are the claims that in 1999 a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area of the UK, that a woman was indecently assaulted in the Westminster area of London in 2001 and that a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in 2004, also in the Westminster area. Between 2004 and 2005, it's also reported that a woman was sexually assaulted in the Westminster area. Brand has previously denied allegations against him and said that all his relationships were consensual. At the time the charges were brought, the police said they had begun their investigations in late September having received several allegations in the wake of a major expose undertaken by 'Dispatches' documentary series and the Sunday Times. After the news of the charges came out, Brand addressed the claims on social media via video. 'When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool, was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile. But I never was a rapist. I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.' The expose that took place in 2023, included a 90-minute documentary and article in the Sunday Times, saw Brand accused of 'rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.'
New York Post
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Russell Brand accused of ‘dragging' woman to male restroom, sexually assaulting another: court docs
Russell Brand has been accused of dragging another woman towards a male restroom and touching another woman's breasts without consent, according to new court documents. The comedian-turned-wellness guru, 49, was last month hit with charges of rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault, according to the Metropolitan Police. The alleged offenses are tied to four separate women and took place between 1999 and 2005, cops said. Advertisement 4 Russell Brand has been accused of dragging another woman towards a male restroom and touching another woman's breasts without consent, according to new court documents. @rustyrockets/ X Cops opened a sex crimes investigation into Brand in September 2023 – just weeks after The Sunday Times and Channel 4 TV's documentary show 'Dispatches' reported that four women had accused Brand of sexual assault – including one rape that allegedly occurred at his Los Angeles home in 2012 at the height of his Hollywood fame. Brand, who has been living in the US since February, is due at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. Advertisement He was also served with a court summons. In a video shared on social media Wednesday, Brand said he was 'heading to the UK for what I am assured will be a simple formality.' 4 Brand, 49, was last month hit with charges of rape, indecent assault, oral rape and two counts of sexual assault. @russellbrand/Instagram 'I am absolutely open to and welcome the opportunity to defend myself because my innocence is indefatigable,' he said, adding that 'fingers crossed' he would be back in time to stream his daily show on Monday. Advertisement In court documents, the 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' actor is accused of assaulting a woman in 2001 by 'grabbing her arm and dragging her towards a male toilet.' He is also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Westminster, London, in 2004, by touching her breasts without her consent. Police said he is also responsible for the alleged oral rape that took place that same year. 4 Brand, who has been living in the US since February, is due at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. News Licensing / MEGA Brand allegedly raped another woman Bournemouth in 1999 and assaulting a then-16-year-old girl by forcing her to perform oral sex during a three-month-long relationship. Advertisement The then-teen claimed she had to punch the 'Get Him to the Greek' actor in the stomach to make him stop, the report alleged. Another woman, cited in the initial media report, alleged that he sexually assaulted her at his West Hollywood residence after the two met at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. In a video shared on social media last month, Brand — who was previously married to pop star Katy Perry — denied the allegations and said he was 'never' a rapist. 'I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist,' he said in a video. 4 Brand has since denied the allegations and said he was 'never' a rapist. GC Images 'I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.' 'I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that,' he added.
