*Days after comedian Russell Brand made headlines by suggesting he and Kanye West (also known as Ye) “suit up and chat” while wearing KKK robes, the British comedian and actor has been formally charged with rape and sexual assault.
The charges involve alleged incidents with four women between 1999 and 2005, according to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service. Brand has denied the allegations, maintaining that all his past relationships were consensual, NBC reports.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Friday that the charges include two counts of rape, indecent assault, and two counts of sexual assault. Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London North, detailed the charges, stating, “These relate to reported non-recent offences between 1999 and 2005, involving four women.” The legal action follows a lengthy investigation sparked by a September 2023 report from The Sunday Times and Channel 4, which accused Brand of sexually and emotionally abusing four women.
The Metropolitan Police, led by Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, have been investigating the case since last year. Furphy emphasized ongoing support for the accusers, saying, “The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers.”
He also urged others to come forward, adding, “Anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”
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The investigation remains active as authorities seek additional witnesses or victims.
Brand is a prominent figure in entertainment who was once married to singer Katy Perry. He now faces a legal battle as prosecutors move forward with the case. Many social media users noted the curious timing of the charges, which happened about 48 hours after Brand suggested he wear a Klan suit while interviewing Ye. In an X post on April 3, he wrote, “Hey @kanyewest – let’s suit up and chat! You wear your KKK robes I’ll wear white KKK ones and we’ll bring about Ku Klux Harmony.”
Meanwhile, Brand has addressed the rape allegations in a new post, stating, “When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool, was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord, I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile. But what I never was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
Watch his response video below.
My response. pic.twitter.com/wJMGxlwBh0
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) April 4, 2025
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