Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assault over four women

On 3 April 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the public body that decides criminal charges in England and Wales, authorised charges against the comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand. They covered one count of rape, one of indecent assault and two of sexual assault.

The charges related to four women and to alleged incidents between 1999 and 2005, when Brand was building his career in British radio, television and film. Police said the allegations had been reported to the Metropolitan Police after a joint investigation published in September 2023 by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme. Brand had publicly denied the allegations made in that reporting.

The decision turned months of public controversy into a criminal case. After the 2023 reports, Brand lost income and platforms, including video monetisation on YouTube, while continuing to maintain his innocence. The CPS stressed that he had the right to a fair trial and that the case should not be prejudiced by commentary. The charges set the stage for proceedings at a London court and for the later trial.