English comedian and actor Russell Brand, 50, has been charged with multiple counts of r*pe and sexual assault on April 4 by the Metropolitan Police.
The Metropolitan Police charged Brand with one count of r*pe, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral r*pe, and two counts of sexual assault of four women after a thorough investigation that began in 2023.
TW: This article contains depictions or discussions of sexual assault and may be triggering to some readers.
More about the allegations
The first woman of the four alleged that she was r*ped in a town in the south of England in 1999. The second claimed that she was indecently assaulted in London in 2001.
As for the third and fourth, one alleged that she was r*ped orally and was sexually assaulted in 2004 while the other claimed that she was sexually assaulted between 2004 and 2005. Both incidents allegedly took place in London.
The women are receiving support
“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” Detective Superintendent and Leading Investigator Andy Furphy said in a statement.
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“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police,” he continued.
Not the first women to speak up
Back in September 2023, five women (four remained anonymous, and one is 16 years old) accused Brand of sexual misconduct.
The incidents allegedly had taken place between 2006 and 2013 and a joint investigation was made by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4 current affairs show Dispatches.
Brand responded to the allegations
Before the aforementioned joint investigation was made public, Brand denied the allegations in an Instagram post. He affirmed that the relationships he had “were absolutely, always consensual,” and he “refuted” these allegations.
He strictly denied them
“I was always transparent about that then — almost too transparent, and I’m being transparent about it now as well. And to see that transparency metastasized into something criminal, that I absolutely deny,” he added.
Many news outlets were aware of the allegations
The Times has reported that a number of women have contacted them concerning Brand. In addition, Scotland Yard and the BBC confirmed to People that they were aware of the circulating allegations.
A BBC spokesperson told People: “The documentary and associated reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised.”
He lost the support of many
Brand’s literary agent Tavistock Wood confirmed to People that he has parted ways with the comedian and he’d no longer represent him.
Furthermore, Trevi Women and Children’s Charity UK have cut ties with Brand, no longer supporting his Stay Free Foundation.
His stand-up shows are also on hold
He was scheduled to perform three stand-up shows as part of his Bipolarisation tour but was postponed due to the allegations.
“We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it — but we know you’ll understand,” the tour’s promoters said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
