Comedian and actor Russell Brand has publicly addressed his ongoing legal battles after being hit with two new criminal charges of rape and sexual assault. Brand, 50, used his popular YouTube channel to post a 16-minute video, his first public comments since the new allegations were announced, in which he vehemently criticised government proposals to restrict the use of jury trials in England and Wales.
New Allegations and Court Proceedings
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the two new charges relate to separate reports from two additional women, concerning alleged non-recent offences said to have occurred in 2009. This brings the total number of women making allegations against Brand to six.
Brand was already facing five charges relating to four other women, which he pleaded not guilty to in a court appearance in May 2025. Those original charges include one count each of rape, indecent assault and oral rape, plus two counts of sexual assault, with alleged incidents occurring between 1999 and 2005.
Lionel Idan, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, stated: "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these additional charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue further criminal proceedings." Brand is scheduled to appear before magistrates next month regarding the new charges.
Brand's YouTube Response and Jury Trial Controversy
In his video, titled 'The UK Just Took A Very Dark Turn', Brand spoke directly to his 6.75 million subscribers. He railed against plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy to reserve jury trials only for the most serious offences, like rape and murder, where a likely sentence exceeds three years in prison.
The proposed reform aims to tackle the significant backlog in crown courts. Brand, however, framed it as an erosion of justice, telling viewers: "Got a bit of backlog? Stop arresting people for stuff they've not done." He added, "Stop creating pretend, crazy, mad crimes in order to legitimise banging people up in jail because you can't control them."
His comments represent a direct link between his personal legal situation and a broader political debate on the justice system.
Ongoing Investigation and Support for Accusers
The Metropolitan Police investigation into Brand remains active. It began in September 2023 following media reports by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Sunday Times, which prompted a number of allegations.
Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi, leading the investigation, emphasised the continued support for those who have come forward: "The women who have made reports, including those connected to the two new charges, continue to receive support from specially trained officers." He urged anyone else with information to contact police.
A four-week trial concerning the initial five charges is scheduled to begin at Southwark Crown Court in the summer of 2026. The new charges will follow their own legal process, further extending a complex and high-profile case that continues to unfold both in the courts and in the court of public opinion.
