Cliff Notes – Russell Brand arrives at court to enter plea
- Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court to enter his plea regarding charges of rape and sexual assault involving four women, with allegations dating from 1999 to 2005.
- The comedian has maintained his innocence, asserting that all encounters were consensual and expressing gratitude for the opportunity to defend himself in court.
Russell Brand arrives at court to enter plea in rape and sexual assault case
Russell Brand was seen arriving in court today as the court case against him starts.
Arriving at Southwark Crown Court on Friday morning hours before he is expected to enter his plea in a rape and sexual assault case.
The actor and comedian, 49, is appearing in court on Friday after being formally charged by the Metropolitan Police last month with rape and sexual assault.
Brand did not speak to reporters and looked straight ahead as he entered the court building.
He was charged in April with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, as well as two counts of sexual assault, relating to four separate women.
The Get Him To The Greek star was released on conditional bail and has returned to court for his plea and trial preparation hearing.
Brand has been accused of sexual assault and controlling behaviour over several years at the height of his fame.
Brand was wearing an open pinstriped shirt, black jacket and jeans. He didn’t speak to reporters on his way into court.
Brand has maintained his innocence
The allegations against Brand were first published in September 2023 when the alleged victims came forward.
He has maintained his innocence, and previously stated that any encounters were ‘consensual’, while declaring he was ‘never was a rapist’.
In a video posted on X, the comedian said: ‘I am now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I’m incredibly grateful for that.’
He said in the clip: ‘I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single before I had a wife and family, who are there just out of shot. I was a fool, man, I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord.
‘I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile but what I never was, was a rapist.’
Brand made his first court appearance earlier this month at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, facing allegations of offences against four women from 1999 to 2005.
He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address, and that he understood his bail conditions.
The charges against him, as heard in court, include allegedly raping a woman in a hotel room when she attended a Labour Party conference in 1999.
The charges against him relate to accusations of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault between 1999 and 2005.
He first appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.
It is alleged that when the woman went to the bathroom after a theatrical event in Bournemouth, Brand removed some of his clothing and later pushed her on the bed, removed her underwear, and raped her.
Another woman accused Brand of indecent assault after being allegedly grabbed by her forearm by him as he tried to drag her into a male toilet at a television station in 2001.
The third alleged victim, the court heard, was a TV worker Brand met in Soho 21 years ago, and he is accused of grabbing her breasts before allegedly orally raping her after pulling her into a toilet.
The fourth complainant is a radio station worker who met Brand during his time working for Channel 4 show Big Brother’s Big Mouth between 2004 and 2005.
Russell Brand rose to fame in 2004 hosting a Big Brother spin-off show
It’s alleged that Brand grabbed her by the face with both hands and pushed her against a wall, kissed her and then grabbed her breasts and buttocks.
Brand was charged following an investigation, after he was accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse by several women, in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches, in September 2023.
Posting on his X account at the time of the allegations, Brand said he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.