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Russell Brand Faces Rape Allegations in UK Trial
Confirmed
In Short: Russell Brand, the 51-year-old comedian and actor, is on trial for seven charges involving six women, including three counts of rape.
Russell Brand, the 51-year-old comedian and actor, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for the start of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault involving six women.
One of the complainants, who met Brand at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in 1999, testified that he turned from friendly to 'monster-like' before the alleged assault.
The woman described Brand as 'dark and arrogant' and 'scary' during the alleged incident, adding that she felt 'safe' with him before the attack.
The woman broke down in tears while recounting the alleged rape, saying she felt she had no way to escape Brand's advances.
The lead prosecutor, Riel Karmy-Jones, described Brand as 'ruthless,' 'manipulative,' and a 'sexual predator,' stating that 'to the defendant, women were simply a means to an end – that end being groping them, sexually or indecently assaulting them or raping them.'
Brand's defense team has denied the allegations, with the comedian maintaining his innocence.
The trial, which began on Monday, is expected to continue as the prosecution presents evidence from the five other complainants.
Brand's trial comes amid a broader national conversation about sexual misconduct and the handling of such allegations in educational institutions, as seen in the recent controversy at Cornell University.
What this adds
The allegations against Russell Brand span a 10-year period from 1999 to 2009.
The trial is the latest high-profile case involving allegations of sexual misconduct against a public figure.
Background
A woman alleges Russell Brand raped her in a hotel room after a cabaret performance at the 1999 Labour Party conference.
Russell Brand, the 51-year-old comedian and actor, arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for the start of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault.
What's confirmed
- One of the women told the jury at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday: "He was just dark and arrogant and performing - he was scary, he was demanding." The woman told police she met Brand before he was famous while attending the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth in 1999.
- The 51-year-old actor and comedian faces seven charges - three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault and one of indecent assault.
- "He was the centre of the show, it was like it was back on stage – he wasn't the [same] person I was chatting to."
- (AP) — A former high-ranking Department of Justice official will look at how Cornell handles sexual misconduct complaints, university trustees announced Tuesday as they tried to address an outpouring of anger over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house.
- Tuesday's announcement comes after days of outrage over allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house.
What's still developing
- The allegations, made by six female complainants, span a 10-year period between 1999 and 2009.
- The jury were shown an image the woman said she took of Brand before the alleged assault The jury were played a police interview with the woman recorded in 2023, when reporting the alleged crime, before she was called to the witness box on Thursday.
- The woman replied: "That's incorrect. I did not fall under his spell and I did not find him attractive. " "I felt safe – I felt sexually safe with him. He was very intelligent and that appealed to me, not in a sexual sense. " The woman became tearful a number of times while giving her evidence from the witness box.
- She said she "thought it was my fault", adding that she was "having nightmares" about the possibility of being pregnant.
- The complainant alleged Brand told her: "Don't worry, that's how I am." She recalled thinking "what on earth have I got into" when, she claims, a shirtless Brand made her take photos of him before the alleged attack.
- "I didn't report it as I didn't want anyone to know. I didn't think anyone would believe me."
- "I hate that I blamed myself, I shouldn't have to blame myself."
- "What was I supposed to do? Hide in bathroom? Walk out the room? Walk past him? I had no phone, no reception, no idea where I was. Run into the night with him following me?"
- "I wasn't laughing, I just remember him jumping up and down being silly."
- She told Southwark Crown Court on Thursday that she invited Brand to her hotel room believing he was gay, and says she did not feel able to flee when he turned on her.
- Russell Brand's trial on seven rape and sexual assault-related charges involving six women began Monday in London, where a judge questioned prospective jurors about their exposure to earlier media allegations against the comedian before selecting a panel to hear the case.
- The Jane Doe who was represented briefly by Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee made an official statement calling her rape allegations against Jay-Z false.