Actor and comedian Russell Brand faced serious charges in a London court on Friday, pleading not guilty to rape and sexual assault allegations involving four women spanning over 25 years. The 50-year-old denied two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault during his court appearance at Southwark Crown Court. His trial is set to commence on June 3, 2026, and is expected to last for four to five weeks.
The accusations against Brand date back to between 1999 and 2005, with incidents reportedly occurring in Bournemouth and London. The first alleged incident took place in Bournemouth at a hotel room during a Labour Party conference in 1999. The accuser claimed that Brand forcibly raped her after she returned to the room and found him waiting for her after stripping down.
Another woman accused Brand of attempting to drag her into a men’s toilet at a London television station in 2001. The third accuser, a television employee, stated that Brand assaulted her at a birthday party in a bar in 2004, leading to forced oral sex in a bathroom. The final accuser, who worked at a radio station, alleged that Brand groped her and kissed her without consent while working on a television program spin-off in 2004-2005.
Throughout the proceedings, Brand remained composed, arriving at court in a suit jacket, black collared shirt, and dark sunglasses. The gravity of the charges did not deter his plea of not guilty to each accusation. As per British law, the identities of the victims of alleged sexual violence are protected from the media indefinitely.
The upcoming trial will shed light on the allegations against Russell Brand and determine the course of justice for the four women who have come forward with their harrowing accounts. The legal process will unfold in the coming weeks, with the truth behind the accusations awaiting revelation in the courtroom. Stay tuned for updates on this high-profile case as it unfolds in the British judicial system.
