Russell Brand has been found guilty of rape and sexual assault following a high-profile trial in London.
On Thursday, November 5, a jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted the 51-year-old comedian and actor of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women. The allegations date back more than 20 years.
Brand was acquitted of two other counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault. Jurors deliberated for more than eight hours over two days before returning their verdicts.
Brand Taken Into Custody Ahead of Sentencing
Following the verdict, Brand was taken into custody. According to The Associated Press, Judge Joel Bennathan told the star he will receive a prison sentence when he is sentenced on Monday.
During the trial, prosecutors described Brand as a ruthless, calculating and manipulative “sexual predator.”
Russell Brand Denied the Charges
Brand denied all of the charges against him. Taking the stand in his own defense, he told the court he had been obsessed with sex and lived a promiscuous lifestyle as a younger man, but insisted he never forced anyone to do anything against their will. He also said the case had consumed his life and taken a toll on his family.
When the charges were first announced, Brand posted a video on X saying he welcomed the chance to prove his innocence in court. In the video, he acknowledged he had been a drug addict and a sex addict in the past, but said he had never been a rapist.
From Comedy Star to Courtroom
Brand rose to fame in the early 2000s as a stand-up comedian and TV and radio host in the U.K., before breaking into Hollywood with roles in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek.
In recent years, he relocated to Florida and built a large online following with videos focused on wellness, religion and conspiracy theories. The allegations against him first came to light in 2023 through a joint media investigation, which was followed by a police inquiry and, ultimately, criminal charges.
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday. Women’s World Today will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.
