Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges
Comedian Russell Brand has pled not guilty to all counts of rape and sexual assaul that he was previously charged with.
Brand has been charged with one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape as well as two counts of sexual assault. In a video posted to Sky News, the actor and comedian can be seen arriving in court wearing large sunglasses and holding a slim brown book.
He was wearing atypical court attire, with a half-open shirt revealing his chest and a long necklace. He cut a casual figure as he strolled towards the hearing amid a wave of reporters. He previously appeared in court on May 3rd, where he was granted bail.
Brand then sat in the dock at Southwark Crown Court. He was largely silent, only speaking to confirm his name and enter his five not guilty pleas. He is due to stand trial on June 3rd next year at the same court.
He denies the allegations against him in cases involving four women spanning 1999 and 2005. It’s alleged that a woman was raped in the Bournemouth area in 1999, a woman was indecently assaulted in Westminster in 2001, a woman was orally raped and sexually assaulted in Westminster in 2004 and between 2004 and 2005, a woman was sexually assaulted again in Westminster, London.
Responding to the charges, Brand previously shared a video on X. In it, Brand explained that when he “was young and single”, he “was a fool“. Before stating that he now “lived in the light of the lord”. He added: “I was a drug addict, sex addict and imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist. I never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
The British actor has been living in the US, and was charged by post last month. It is thought that he will return to the US for the next year before his trial.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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