British actor and comedian Russell Brand appeared before a UK court on Tuesday as prosecutors filed two new charges of rape and sexual assault against him, adding to an ongoing case that has drawn significant public attention. The latest charges, brought in December 2025, relate to separate alleged incidents involving two women in London in 2009.
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Brand, 50, had already pleaded not guilty in May last year to two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault connected to four other women. Those accusations span alleged incidents between 1999 and 2005.
🚨 RUSSELL BRAND SLAPPED WITH FRESH RAPE AND SEX ASSAULT CHARGES – VIDEOS INTO UK COURT FROM AMERICA AS MET POLICE DIG UP 2009 ALLEGATIONS!
The controversial comic, already facing five historic sex offence charges from 1999-2005 involving four women (which he denies), now hit… pic.twitter.com/P64d9rWntu
— Grifty (@TheGriftReport) January 20, 2026
On Tuesday, Brand joined proceedings remotely via video link, wearing a pale blue shirt and speaking only to confirm his name and date of birth. He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to reappear at Southwark Crown Court in London on February 17 for a pre-trial hearing. A full trial over the five original charges is due to begin in June.
The high-profile case follows a joint investigation in 2023 by The Sunday Times and Channel 4, which reported multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Brand. Police subsequently opened an inquiry that led to formal charges.
Brand rose to prominence as a stand-up comic before transitioning into Hollywood roles in the early 2010s. He married American pop singer Katy Perry in 2010, though the couple divorced two years later. His public persona has shifted sharply over the past decade: once a left-leaning political commentator, he now promotes conservative and religious themes to millions of followers online. In 2024, he said he had become a Christian after being baptised in the River Thames.
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Brand denies all allegations. The case has prompted wider discussions in the UK about celebrity accountability, media investigations and the handling of sexual assault claims.