British police announced on Tuesday that comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with an additional count of rape and another of sexual assault. These new charges, which have been authorized by the Crown Prosecution Service, involve two women and come in the wake of five earlier charges laid in April. The previous allegations involve four other women and include two counts of rape, one of indecent assault, and two of sexual assault, with incidents reported to have occurred over two decades ago.
Brand is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 20 concerning the latest charges. A trial for the initial allegations is set to commence at Southwark Crown Court on June 16. Despite these serious accusations, Brand has pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges.
Once a prominent broadcaster in the UK and previously married to American pop star Katy Perry, Brand has denied engaging in any non-consensual sexual acts. In response to the initial charges, he described himself as having been a foolish sex addict in his younger years but firmly stated, “what I never was, was a rapist.”
The investigations into Brand’s conduct began in September 2023, following allegations that surfaced in a report by Channel 4 TV’s “Dispatches” and an article published by The Sunday Times.
This unfolding situation has raised significant media attention, reflecting broader societal conversations regarding accountability and the impact of historical allegations. The legal proceedings are set to continue, and many will be closely watching the outcome as the public discourse surrounding these issues continues to evolve.