Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with rape and a multiple counts of assault over a number of allegations between 1999 and 2005, the UK’s Metropolitan Police have said.
Mr Brand, 50, once one of Britain’s most high-profile comedians and broadcasters, had repositioned himself in recent years as an internet social commentator.
Police said Mr Brand, who lives in Oxfordshire, southern England, was charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault, and that the charges relate to four separate women.
“The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police,” the statement said.
In a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service said: “We carefully reviewed the evidence after a police investigation into allegations made following the broadcast of a Channel 4 documentary in September 2023.
“We have concluded that Russell Brand should be charged with offences including rape, sexual assault and indecent assault.”
Mr Brand has previously stated that he had never had non-consensual sex.
He will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday 2 May.
