Russell Brand has officially been charged with rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault, marking a major development in a months-long investigation by London’s Metropolitan Police. The charges relate to alleged incidents involving four separate women and span a period from 1999 to 2005.

The 50-year-old comedian and actor, who rose to fame in the early 2000s, was first investigated after a joint exposé by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times aired in September 2023. The program featured five women, four of whom chose to remain anonymous, who accused Brand of “rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse.”

“The women who have made reports continue to receive support from specially trained officers,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy. “The Met’s investigation remains open and detectives ask anyone who has been affected by this case, or anyone who has any information, to come forward and speak with police.”

Brand has repeatedly denied all allegations of non-consensual behavior. In a video posted to social media just hours after the charges were announced, he responded emotionally. “When I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, I was a fool… I was a drug addict, sex addict and an imbecile,” Brand said. “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.”

He is due to appear in London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

Following the 2023 exposé, the fallout for Brand was swift. His live tour was postponed, his publishing deal with Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird was suspended, and the BBC began removing older content featuring Brand from its digital platforms, saying the content “falls below public expectations.” Additional allegations also prompted a separate investigation from Thames Valley Police.

Earlier this year, the BBC concluded an internal investigation into Brand’s behavior during his tenure at the network. The inquiry revealed eight complaints, two of which were made while he was still employed there. One complaint described Brand urinating into a cup during a BBC Radio 2 show, while another alleged he exposed himself to a woman in the bathroom of the BBC’s Los Angeles office. The broadcaster admitted these incidents were “not dealt with effectively” at the time.

Brand, once a major figure in UK media and Hollywood with roles in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Pineapple Express, had recently shifted his focus online. In the years before the allegations surfaced, he had cultivated a large following on YouTube and Rumble, aligning himself with right-wing political discourse and frequently expressing support for Donald Trump. He has also spoken publicly about his conversion to Christianity, even praying onstage at events alongside figures like Tucker Carlson.

As the court date nears, Brand continues to deny the charges, while the investigation remains active and evolving.

This case is far from over—and many are watching closely.