Russell Brand Pleads Not Guilty to New Rape and Sexual Assault Charges in Court

Latoya GayleTue, February 24, 2026 at 2:22 PM UTC

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Russell Brand at Southwark Crown Court on Feb. 24, 2026

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Russell Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday, Feb. 24

Brand pleaded not guilty to accusations of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another woman in 2009

The actor and comedian previously pleaded not guilty to five other offenses involving four women that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two additional charges of rape and sexual assault.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the actor, 50, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London to enter pleas. He was seen wearing a fedora-style hat with an unbuttoned tiger print shirt and sunglasses and carrying a bible that had post-it notes stuck in it.

“Blessed,” said Brand, when reporters asked how he was feeling ahead of his court appearance, according to Reuters.

Inside the courtroom, Brand confirmed his name and pleaded not guilty to offenses relating to two women that allegedly occurred in 2009, BBC News and Sky News reported. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced the two further charges of rape and sexual assault against brand in December 2025.

Southwark Crown Court

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"These additional charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police," per the CPS.

A hearing will be held next month to decide whether the further allegations should be joined with another case against Brand. According to Reuters, the actor and comedian's lawyer has said Brand needs more time to address the latest charges against him.

Last May, Brand pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one of indecent assault and two of sexual assault. The alleged offenses involving four women occurred in London and Bournemouth from 1999 to 2005.

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A trial related to the five original charges, which were announced in April 2025, is scheduled to start June, 16, 2026, per a Metropolitan Police press release. PEOPLE previously reported that the trial is expected to last for up to five weeks.

Brand has been bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court at a date to be fixed.

Russell Brand on Feb. 24, 2026

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Before becoming a TV presenter in the 2000s, Essex-born Brand was a stand-up comedian. He then starred in movies such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek and also had his own BBC radio show.

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His recent court appearances come after a joint investigation into him by U.K newspapers The Sunday Times and The Times and Channel 4 current affairs show Dispatches in 2023. Five women made claims about events that took place between 2006 and 2013 — including one woman who was 16 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

Ahead of the story’s release, Brand said on social media, “I’ve received two extremely disturbing letters, or a letter and an email, one from a mainstream media TV company, one from a newspaper, listing a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks. But amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute."

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

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