Russell Brand faces potential charges as prosecutors review sexual assault claims

Russell Brand, the British actor and comedian, may soon face criminal charges as police have referred evidence of multiple sexual assault allegations to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for further review.

The allegations stem from Brand’s years as a prominent radio and television figure from 2006 to 2013, a time when he also gained fame as a Hollywood actor in films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

The accusations first surfaced publicly in September 2023 after a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches program. According to reports, four women accused Brand, now 49, of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse, claiming he used his celebrity status to exploit them. One accuser described her relationship with Brand as emotionally abusive and manipulative, adding that he referred to her as “the child” due to their significant age difference. Another woman alleged that he raped her at his Los Angeles residence in 2012, after which she sought support from a rape crisis center the same day. Brand has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that his relationships were “absolutely always consensual.”

In response to the accusations, the Metropolitan Police conducted a series of interviews with Brand, officially recording the statements and compiling a file of evidence. In a statement on Saturday, authorities confirmed they had submitted this evidence to the CPS for assessment of potential charges. Since the initial allegations, both the BBC and Channel 4 have removed content featuring Brand, while YouTube has demonetized his channel, preventing him from generating revenue on the platform.

The developments mark a critical juncture in Brand’s career, as fans, media outlets, and industry figures closely monitor how the CPS will proceed with the case.