Russell Brand Pleads Not Guilty to New Sexual Assault Charges

Rolling Stone

by Jon Blistein

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two new sexual assault charges in a London court, including one count of rape and another of sexual assault. These charges were filed last December and are alleged to have occurred in 2009. Brand also faces five prior charges from April 2025, involving four women and including two rapes, indecent exposure, and two sexual assaults that allegedly took place between 1995 and 2005. He has denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence. The new charges arose after two additional women came forward, prompting the Crown Prosecution Service to file them separately. Brand’s trial for the original five charges is scheduled to begin in June and could last up to five weeks. It remains uncertain whether the new charges will be included in this trial, as both the prosecution and defense agreed to revisit the matter later. The investigation into Brand began in 2023 following allegations published in *The Times* and Channel 4’s investigative series *Dispatches*. These reports detailed misconduct claims from multiple women. In response, Brand has repeatedly denied the allegations, even posting a video in April where he addressed his past behavior but firmly rejected any association with rape. This case holds significant cultural weight, as Brand is a prominent figure in entertainment and media. His legal battles reflect broader societal discussions about accountability for public figures, particularly concerning historical misconduct allegations. The outcome of these trials could set precedents for how such cases are handled in the entertainment industry and beyond. Readers interested in culture and entertainment will find

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Originally published on Rolling Stone on 2/24/2026