London’s Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they are investigating a report of an alleged sexual assault following recent allegations surrounding British comedian and actor Russell Brand.
The accusations came to light as a result of a joint investigation by leading media outlets, The Times, Sunday Times, and Channel 4 television. The investigation featured claims from four women who accused Brand of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse, with the alleged incidents said to have taken place between 2006 and 2013.
Russell Brand, aged 48, categorically denied these allegations in a video statement released on Friday. He emphatically asserted that all his relationships have consistently been “consensual,” even during a period in his life when he acknowledged being “very, very promiscuous.”
In a development reported on Monday, The Times and Sunday Times revealed that more women have since come forward with claims related to Brand’s conduct in the early 2000s. While these reports did not provide specific details, they underscore the gravity of the situation.
These allegations emerge against a backdrop of growing concerns about how sexual assault cases are handled within the UK’s criminal justice system and how media organizations navigate accusations against prominent individuals.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed in a brief statement that they received a report of a sexual assault alleged to have occurred in 2003 in Soho, central London. The authorities are now in contact with the woman who made the report and are providing her with support.
In response to the allegations, several entities have initiated investigations. This includes the BBC, Channel 4, and a production company that had previously collaborated with Russell Brand.
The reports published by The Times and Sunday Times, as well as the Channel 4 documentary, detail serious allegations. One woman alleges that Brand raped her at his Los Angeles residence, while another claims that he assaulted her during a three-month relationship when she was just 16 and still in school.
Russell Brand initially gained international recognition as the former spouse of pop star Katy Perry and further solidified his reputation as a stand-up comedian, known for his audacious routines often centered around topics like drugs and sex. He also ventured into hosting reality TV shows and portrayed the character Aldous Snow in the films “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” (2008) and its sequel “Get Him to the Greek” (2010).
In recent years, Brand has transitioned into a prominent conspiracy theorist, leveraging his YouTube channel to question various aspects of the Covid pandemic to his extensive following of nearly seven million subscribers. His theories have suggested that the global pandemic was a smokescreen orchestrated by a global elite to facilitate radical social transformations.
