Russell Brand Granted Bail, Will Face Court Again On May 30 In Rape And Sexual Assault Case

May 2, 2025: Comedian and broadcaster Russell Brand has been granted bail after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to face serious criminal charges, including rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault. The brief hearing, lasting approximately 12 minutes, saw Brand confirm his name, address, and age (49) before being informed of his next court appearance on May 30 at the Old Bailey.

The charges, brought by London’s Metropolitan Police, relate to four separate women and span incidents between 1999 and 2005. Among the allegations, one woman claims Brand raped her in Bournemouth in 1999, while others involve alleged indecent and sexual assaults in Westminster, London, including oral rape in 2004 and multiple alleged assaults through 2005.

Brand, who has resided in the U.S. and has recently been spotted at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, was at the center of a 2022 exposé by Channel 4 and The Times. Following the charges, questions were raised about whether he would attend court or face extradition. However, Brand appeared in person in a black shirt and sunglasses, stating earlier that he is “incredibly grateful” to defend himself in court.

Court documents reveal disturbing details, including a 2001 allegation that Brand grabbed a woman and dragged her toward a male toilet. In response to the accusations, Brand admitted past struggles with drug and sex addiction, but strongly denied any non-consensual behavior. “I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes,” he stated in a recent video.

The allegations have triggered internal investigations across major UK media outlets, including BBC, Channel 4, and Banijay—all of which previously worked with Brand. These probes have uncovered additional concerns and prompted public apologies. The BBC’s latest report found that staff at its Los Angeles bureau had once joked about Brand allegedly exposing himself to a woman. Channel 4 also unearthed two new allegations during its own inquiry.

Brand, once a household name known for his work on Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Celebrity Bake Off, now faces a high-profile legal battle with potentially grave consequences.