ALBAWABA - Russell Brand faces multiple sexual assault charges—sparking questions about Katy Perry’s
The London Metropolitan Police said Friday that comedian and actor Russell Brand was charged with one crime of rape, one count of oral rape, two charges of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault.
Four different ladies are involved in the charges. According to officials, the suspected offenses occurred between 1999 and 2005.
"Specially trained officers continue to provide support to the women who have reported," said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy of the Metropolitan Police in a statement. Detectives want anyone who has been impacted by this case or who knows anything to come forward and talk to police as the Met's investigation is still ongoing.
On May 2, Brand is scheduled to appear in London court.
Brand addressed the accusations in a video statement sent to X on Friday.
"I've always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family ... I was a fool, man; I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord," Brand stated. "I was an idiot, a drug addict, and a sex addict. However, I was never a rapist. I've never done anything that wasn't consenting. I hope you'll look into my eyes and see that.
After expressing gratitude to his supporters, he said he was "incredibly grateful" to be able to defend the charges in court.
The accusations, according to the Metropolitan Police on Friday, are the result of an investigation that started in September 2023.
The documentary "Russell Brand: In Plain Sight," which was the product of a collaborative investigation with The Times and The Sunday Times, was broadcast on Britain's Channel 4 program Dispatches that month. Four anonymous women who appeared in the documentary said that between 2006 and 2013, Brand had sexually assaulted or raped them.
The Metropolitan Police declared they had launched an inquiry after the show aired, claiming they "received several allegations of sexual offenses." According to the Associated Press, police cited news investigations and a television documentary but did not name Brand at the time.
Thames Valley Police in South East England told ABC News in October 2023 that they were also looking into claims of harassment and stalking against Brand, "dating back to 2018."
Russell Brand took to his podcast to talk about the end of his marriage to singer Katy Perry, just one day before news broke that he had been charged with rape and sexual assault.
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 28: Singer Katy Perry and actor Russell Brand (Photo by Christopher Polk / AFP )
“What can I tell you is, when I was married to Katy Perry, she’s like, not entirely normal, because she’s an extraordinary, massive star — but she’s not weird or off key,” Brand, 49, said during his “Stay Free with Russell Brand” podcast on Thursday, April 3. “And wasn’t involved in anything nefarious, as far as I could tell.”
“The reasons that a marriage didn’t work are the normal human reasons [why] marriages don’t work, and I have nothing but respect for her,” he added.
Brand and Perry, 40, married in 2010 before he filed for divorce in late 2011, citing irreconcilable differences. Brand then married Laura Gallacher in 2017 while Perry is now engaged to Orlando Bloom.
“I obviously disagree with [Perry’s] political views,” Brand continued. “But I probably disagree with some of my wife’s political views, my beloved wife, Laura Brand’s political views. So, you know, you always disagree with people, don’t ya?”
Brand’s comments came shortly before British police charged him with rape and sexual assault following an 18-month investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed to Us Weekly that he was charged following claims from four different women between 1999 and 2005.
