Comedian Russell Brand, who has been facing comparable allegations involving four women, has been charged with further charges of rape and sexual assault by British authorities.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the United Kingdom announced on Tuesday that two additional women were involved in the fresh allegations against Brand, which included one case of rape along with a count of sexual assault. According to the CPS, the alleged offenses occurred in 2009.
In April, Brand was charged with two counts of rape, two acts of sexual assault, and one case of sexual misconduct. Four women accused the comedian of assaulting them, sparking an 18-month inquiry that resulted in the accusations. According to the prosecution, three of these offenses occurred in London and one in the English coastal resort of Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005.
In a London court, Brand entered a not guilty plea to those accusations. Regarding the two new counts, he is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on January 20. Additionally, a trial, anticipated to last four to five weeks, has been scheduled for June 16.
The ladies involved in the case “continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” according to Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi. “Anyone affected by this case or anyone with information to come forward,” he said, adding that the police investigation was still underway.
In recent years, the actor has become less visible in the dominant media. He is well-known for his provocative stand-up antics and struggles with drugs and alcohol. With films that combined wellness with conspiracy theories and religious conversations, he developed a sizable internet following. Brand stated that he was excited about the chance to establish his innocence after the initial charges were made public in April.
In a social media video, he declared, “I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
