Russell Brand has entered formal pleas of “not guilty” to five serious sex offense charges during a May 30 pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The charges, which span alleged incidents from 1999 to 2005, include rape, indecent assault, and oral rape involving four women. Brand, who now resides in Florida, remains free on bail ahead of a trial currently scheduled for June 2026.
The court appearance follows Brand’s initial charge in April, which was covered on What’s Trending. At that time, Brand expressed his intent to fight the allegations and reiterated his claim that all past encounters were consensual.
On Friday, Brand arrived in court wearing all black, accompanied by a visibly religious ensemble—multiple crucifixes and a Puritan prayer book in hand—reflecting a public shift toward Christian faith that has become a recurring theme across his digital platforms.
He did not speak to the press.
In a video posted on April 4, the day of his formal charge, Brand admitted to past struggles with sex addiction and substance abuse, but rejected the accusations outright: “What I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity,” he said.
Russell Brand responds after being charged with r*pe and s*xual assault dating back to the 90s.pic.twitter.com/Jc1H25g8aA
— Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) April 4, 2025
The allegations detail four separate encounters. One woman accuses Brand of raping her in Bournemouth in 1999 following a Labour Party event. Another alleges that he attempted to force her into a men’s restroom at a London TV studio in 2001. Two more incidents involve reported assaults in 2004 and 2005, during his time working in British television.
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As this legal case progresses, the public response remains sharply divided.
Supporters on platforms like Rumble and YouTube, where Brand frequently posts content critical of mainstream media and government institutions, see the proceedings as politically motivated. Detractors argue that the case underscores the importance of accountability, regardless of a figure’s media reach or ideological leanings.
This is not the first time Brand has faced scrutiny.
As noted in April’s coverage, multiple investigations have been launched by media organizations that previously employed or collaborated with him. A separate civil lawsuit in the U.S., alleging sexual assault on the 2011 film set of Arthur, remains ongoing.
