Comedian Russell Brand arrives at UK court to face rape and sex assault charges
Brand, once one of Britain's most high-profile broadcasters and former husband of U.S. pop singer Katy Perry, has consistently denied having non-consensual sex since allegations about him were first aired two years ago.
The 49-year-old comedian, wearing sunglasses and a dark shirt unbuttoned to his chest, slowly picked his way through a throng of reporters and cameramen into Westminster Magistrates' Court without speaking.
London police charged Brand on April 4 with rape, oral rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault involving the four women between 1999 and 2005.
After the charges were announced, Brand said that in his younger days, before getting married and having children, he had been a fool and a sex addict but 'what I never was, was a rapist'.
'I have never engaged in non-consensual activity,' he said in a video statement. 'I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that.'
In the 2000s, Brand was a regular on British screens, known for his flamboyant style and appearance. He worked for the BBC and starred in a number of films including 'Get Him to the Greek' before marrying Perry in 2010. They divorced 14 months later.
By the early 2020s he had faded from mainstream culture, appearing primarily on his internet channel where he airs his views on U.S. politics and free speech.
In September 2023, the Sunday Times newspaper and Channel 4 TV's documentary show 'Dispatches' reported allegations of sex offences against him, and London police opened an investigation some weeks later.
Brand, who said last year he had become a Christian, rejected those accusations.
'These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies. And as I've written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
16 minutes ago
- The South African
BIG changes coming to SA's borders this month
New passport stamps, introduced at SA's borders from this month (August 2025), will hopefully stem the tide of corruption and illegal immigration. This past weekend, the Border Management Authority (BMA) hosted a press conference in Pretoria to clarify. Besides releasing its quarterly report for the 2025/26 financial year, the BMA Commissioner, Michael Masiapato, highlighted key changes at SA's borders. A new collaboration with the Government Printing Works brings with it a new passport stamp of the 'highest security standards.' Here's what it means to you … Example of a South African entry stamp on a British passport. Image: File Principally, the BMA is introducing a new stamp at SA's borders to prevent tampering, forgery, and unauthorised use. Withdrawal of the old stamps was carried out concurrently with the distribution of the new one, reports IOL . 'We started with immigration-based stamps for SA's borders. But now we'll embark on redesigning new stamps for other specialised functions. These include the likes of agriculture, health and environment,' said Masiapato. Most foreign nationals forbade entry were from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, says the commissioner. Image: File Likewise, Masiapato provided an update on the security of SA's borders. In the first quarter of the year, 9 954 persons were intercepted and deported while attempting to enter the country illegally. 'Of those, 5 826 were undocumented, 2 127 inadmissible and 2 001 undesirable. Moreover, the majority were from Basotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique,' said Masiapato. Since July 2022, the BMA has prevented 496 622 people from crossing SA's borders illegally. And over this period the border guards have intercepted more than 350 vehicles being smuggled out of the country by criminal syndicates. Plus, guards have seized millions of Rands' worth of counterfeit clothing and footwear. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
eNCA
15 hours ago
- eNCA
Lions hooker Sheehan banned over Lynagh incident
British and Irish Lions hooker Dan Sheehan has been suspended for four matches for flattening Wallabies playmaker Tom Lynagh in Saturday's third and final Test, World Rugby announced on Monday. The 26-year-old Irishman -- who captained the side for part of the 22-12 defeat after Maro Itoje suffered a head injury -- had argued his action did not merit a citing nor was it foul play. However, an independent panel disagreed, imposing the ban, although he will miss only three games if he successfully completes a coaching intervention. "The sanction has been accepted by the player," read the judgement. "In determining foul play, the Committee found that Sheehan's actions were reckless. "The Committee found that he made head contact with the Australian player, that his action amounted to a high degree of danger and that no mitigation applied." Sheehan charged into the breakdown during the first half of the clash in Sydney, appearing to elbow Lynagh in the head. It was missed by the referee and television match official (TMO), despite Lynagh leaving the field for a head injury assessment which he failed. Sheehan will miss his province Leinster's pre-season match against Cardiff and two United Rugby Championship games with South African sides the Sharks and Stormers.
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Dua Lipa proudly becomes Kosovo Citizen
Pop star Dua Lipa has proudly become a citizen of Kosovo, a move that brings together her two worlds. The London-born singer, whose parents are Kosovan-Albanian, described the moment as a union of her identity. 'It feels like my two sides are now one,' Lipa said during the ceremony. The event was hosted by Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani. She called Lipa 'one of the most iconic cultural figures in our country's history'. She also spoke warmly about the singer's deep connection to Kosovo, according to the BBC . 'Dua and Kosovo have always been inseparable. From the world's biggest stages to the hearts of millions, she's carried our story with strength, pride, and grace,' Osmani posted on social media. Lipa lived in Pristina, Kosovo's capital, briefly from the age of 11 when her family moved back after Kosovo declared independence. The country broke away from Serbia in 2008, a move recognised by many Western nations but not by countries such as Spain, Greece, Russia, and China. The divide still causes tensions, but Lipa's role shines amid this complex history. The singer expressed how much the citizenship means to her and her family. 'I love this country, and this means so much to me and my family,' she said. She also holds British and Albanian citizenship, having been granted Albanian citizenship in 2022 for promoting the country through her music and fame. Kosovo also named Lipa an Honorary Ambassador in 2022. She has used her platform to advocate for Kosovo globally and to support vulnerable communities there. Her charity work and cultural influence have helped change perceptions of Kosovo, especially through the Sunny Hill Festival she established in 2018 with her father. The festival seeks to highlight Kosovo's vibrant culture rather than its past of conflict. Lipa headlined the Sunny Hill Festival this year during her visit. After the concert, she shared a message on Instagram. 'Sharing this night with you all, in the city that shaped me, surrounded by so much energy, joy, and pride… It's hard to put into words what it means.' The festival has become a symbol of hope and optimism for many Kosovans and offers a fresh narrative to the world about this young nation. For South Africans, many of whom come from diverse cultural backgrounds and have experienced their struggles for recognition and identity, Lipa's story resonates deeply. U.K. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, praised Lipa too. 'The UK and Kosovo are proud to call Dua Lipa one of our own,' he said with a smile in a photo alongside the star. With this new citizenship, Dua Lipa strengthens her bond with Kosovo and continues to shine a light on her heritage from the global stage. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
