British comedian Russell Brand denies sexual assault claims

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Sep 17, 2023 9:15 AM EDT | Last Updated: 10 minutes ago

British comedian and histrion Russell Brand has denied immoderate transgression wrongdoing arsenic the Sunday Times paper reported 4 women had accused him of intersexual assault, including rape, during a seven-year play erstwhile helium was astatine the tallness of his fame.

Brand, 48, the erstwhile hubby of U.S. vocalist Katy Perry, issued a denial to unspecified "very superior transgression allegations" hours earlier they were published online by the paper connected Saturday.

The Sunday Times did not accidental if immoderate of the women had made complaints to the police. Reuters was incapable to scope Brand's representatives for further effect aft the paper's study was published.

The Times, which reported that the alleged incidents had taken spot betwixt 2006 and 2013, said 1 pistillate had made an allegation of rape, portion different said Brand assaulted her erstwhile she was 16 and inactive astatine school. Two of the accusers reported that the incidents occurred successful Los Angeles, the insubstantial said.

Channel 4 TV's documentary amusement Dispatches also broadcast a fig of clips of the women connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, describing the alleged incidents.

In a video connection posted connected societal media, Brand said the accusations published by the 2 British media outlets contained "a litany of highly egregious and assertive attacks arsenic good arsenic immoderate beauteous anserine stuff."

"But amidst this litany of astonishing alternatively baroque attacks, are immoderate precise superior allegations that I perfectly refute," helium said.

"These allegations pertain to the clip erstwhile I was moving successful the mainstream, erstwhile I was successful the newspapers each the time, erstwhile I was successful the movies. And arsenic I've written astir extensively successful my books, I was very, precise promiscuous," Brand said.

"Now, during that clip of promiscuity, the relationships I had were perfectly ever consensual."

Joint media probe launched successful 2019

The Sunday Times said its study was the effect of a associated probe with Dispatches that began successful 2019.

Brand was erstwhile 1 of Britain's astir high-profile comedians, known for his flamboyant benignant and appearance, a regular connected tv and vigor — including moving for the BBC — during the 2000s, portion helium besides starred successful a fig of films, specified arsenic Get Him to the Greek.

He joined Perry successful a lavish wedding successful India successful 2010, but filed for divorcement conscionable 14 months later. He present chiefly focuses connected online projects and has a ample pursuing for his regular podcasts and shows connected societal media.

"I don't caput them utilizing my books and my standup to speech astir my promiscuous consensual behaviour successful the past," he said successful his video message. "What I earnestly refute are these very, precise superior transgression allegations."