Actor and comedian Russell Brand was given conditional bail by a London court on Friday after being charged with rape and sexual assault involving four women.
The 49-year-old did not enter a plea and has previously denied all accusations.
He was surrounded by photographers as he arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for his first hearing. He faces one charge each of rape, indecent assault, and oral rape, along with two charges of sexual assault.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Brand to appear at the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, on May 30. He was granted bail with the condition that he must inform the court of his location, whether in the U.K. or U.S. Brand lives in Florida but must attend all court dates. If he breaks the conditions, he could be taken into custody.
Brand, known for his roles in films like “Get Him To The Greek,” wore a loose shirt and jeans and listened carefully as the charges were read. He only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth, address, and understanding of his bail terms.
The alleged incidents happened between 1999 and 2005 — one in Bournemouth and the other three in central London. The identities of the women have not been made public.
Police have spoken with Brand, and he denies the accusations. He has denied taking part in “non-consensual activity.” In a video posted on X after being charged, he said he looked forward to proving his innocence.
One accusation involves an alleged rape in 1999 at a hotel in Bournemouth, where the woman said Brand removed some clothing, pushed her onto the bed, took off her underwear, and raped her after she returned from the bathroom.
Russell Brand at Westminster MagistratesIn 2001, another woman claimed Brand grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a men’s restroom at a London TV station.
A third woman, who worked in TV and met Brand in Soho in 2004, said he grabbed her chest and later forced her into a toilet, where he allegedly committed oral rape.
The fourth accusation came from a woman working at a radio station while Brand was involved with a Channel 4 show linked to “Big Brother” between 2004 and 2005. She said he grabbed her face, pushed her into a wall, kissed her, and touched her inappropriately.
These charges followed a joint investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times in September 2023.
Brand is known for his bold and edgy comedy, past work in TV and radio, and memoirs about his struggles with addiction. He acted in several Hollywood films and was married to singer Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012.
In recent years, Brand has stepped back from traditional media but gained a large online audience through videos that include wellness topics and conspiracy theories. He recently said he had relocated to the U.S.
