LONDON — British comedian and actor Russell Brand has been charged with rape and sexual assault, Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said Friday.
The “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star was charged with two counts of rape, indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault, Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North said on Friday.
“These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women,” she added.
Brand has previously denied the allegations, saying that all his relationships have been consensual. NBC News has reached out to his representatives for comment.
“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” lead investigator Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy from the Metropolitan Police said in a separate statement.
He added that the investigation remained open and detectives were asking “anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”
The charges come after detectives began investigating in September 2023 after The Sunday Times newspaper and British broadcaster Channel 4 reported allegations that Brand had sexually and emotionally abused four women.
Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse by four women. One of them said she was 16 (the age of consent in the U.K.) and Brand was 30 when they began a relationship that included abuse and sexual assault.
In a video posted to his social media accounts before the publication of the allegations and the Channel 4 program titled “Russell Brand: In Plain Sight,” the comedian turned wellness influencer has denied what he called “very serious allegations.”
Brand, who was once married to the popstar Katy Perry, has since deepened his involvement with the popular culture of the political right wing, appearing last September on stage with Tucker Carlson during the media personality’s live tour.
He has also converted to Christianity in recent years and was spotted at the Republican National Convention in July.
Brand will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on May 2.
