Back in September 2023, following a four-year joint investigation, The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4 broke the news that four women had accused English comedian Russell Brand of rape, sexual assault, and abuse over a seven-year period from 2006 to 2013. One of the four women said she was only 16 when Brand began to abuse her. Another woman said he raped her in Los Angeles in 2012.
Brand was informed about the exposé eight days before the piece went out. The day before the news went public, Brand posted an almost three-minute video addressing the allegations, calling them “very serious criminal allegations” and claiming that his relationships had been consensual during a “very, very promiscuous” time in his life. He said the witnesses’ evidence contradicted the outlets’ narrative and blamed the allegations on a targeted agenda against him.
During the media fallout, Brand’s management agency, Tavistock Wood, dropped Brand, stating it was “horribly misled by him.” His book publisher Bluebird also paused future work with Brand. Brand’s YouTube account was also suspended from monetization for violating its creator responsibility policy.
Soon after the news broke, the Metropolitan Police opened an investigation into Brand after receiving a report of an alleged 2023 sexual assault. In April 2025, Brand was officially charged with rape and sexual assault involving four different women and pleaded not guilty. In late 2025, Brand was charged with another count of rape and another count of sexual assault for two more women.
On November 9 of this year, Brand was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
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