Russell Brand pleads not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges in London.

British actor and comedian Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to a series of allegations that include rape and sexual assault. Brand, who is approaching his 50th birthday next week, has categorically denied all charges against him, which encompass one count of rape, one count of oral rape, two instances of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These charges were initially made public in April 2025, triggering significant media attention and public scrutiny.

During the court appearance, Brand maintained a composed demeanor, dressing in a gray blazer over a dark-hued collared shirt, which he unbuttoned to reveal jewelry. He was seen holding a copy of “The Valley of Vision,” a collection of Puritan prayers, which generated speculation about his state of mind during this critical moment in his life.

The trial is set to begin in June 2026 and is anticipated to last approximately one month. Until then, Brand has been granted conditional bail, as confirmed by the presiding judge, allowing him to remain free while awaiting trial.

The allegations against Brand involve a series of incidents purported to have occurred between 1999 and 2005, involving four separate women. This timeframe aligns with the peak of Brand’s career, during which he gained fame through his provocative stand-up comedy and films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek.” According to prosecution accounts, the earliest incident happened in Bournemouth during the 1999 Labour Party conference, where an accuser alleges Brand raped her in a hotel room.

In a separate instance from 2001 in London, another woman accused Brand of assaulting her by forcibly dragging her toward a male restroom, according to court documents. Additional counts relate to an oral rape and sexual assault in Westminster in 2004, as well as another sexual assault that reportedly occurred between 2004 and 2005.

The investigation into Brand commenced in September 2023, prompted by a plethora of allegations surfacing from multiple women. This coincided with a report released jointly by The Sunday Times, The Times of London, and Channel 4, which disclosed claims of sexual assault and rape by Brand spanning from 2006 to 2013.

While the allegations laid out in the UK are serious, it is noteworthy that Brand has not faced any charges in the United States for alleged incidents occurring in California. As the legal proceedings unfold, the public will be closely monitoring both the trial and the implications of these serious allegations.