Christian actor and influencer Russell Brand was accused of rape and sexual assault, the British crown service and metropolitan police announced on Friday.
Brand, 49, is known for his comedy and his acting career, with films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, “Get to the Greek”, “Despicable Me” and “Trolls”. He gained notoriety after marrying the pop star of Pop Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012.
Since Brand was baptized a year ago, he was opened on his faith on social networks and was invited to speak of several Christian podcasts.
Brand is now faced with a total of five accusations: a rape chief, an indecent assault chief, an oral leader and two chiefs of sexual assault, the authorities reported. The incidents would have involved four women and would have taken place between 1999 and 2005 in London and Bournemouth, England.
The detectives began to investigate the case after the Sunday Times newspaper and the British broadcaster Channel 4 reported allegations in 2023 that the brand had sexually and emotionally abused four women. These women said incidents occurred between 2006 and 2013.
Your tax deductible gift supports our mission to report the truth and restore the church. Make a donation of $ 50 or more to the Roys report this month, and you can choose to receive “Days of Fire and Glory: The Rise and Fall of A Charismatic Community” by Julia Duin, click here.
One of the women told the publications that she was 16 (the age of the United Kingdom’s consent) and the brand was 30 years old when they started a relationship that involved both abuses and sexual assaults.
“Women who have made reports continue to receive the support of specially trained officers,” said Superintendent Detective Andy Furphy in a statement. “The MET investigation remains open and the detectives ask anyone who has been assigned by this case, or anyone who has information, to present themselves and to speak with the police.”
Brand has repeatedly denied the allegations on social networks, saying that all his relations have been consensual.
In a video published on X Friday, Brand allegedly alleged that even if he was an “idiot” before finding God, he was never a “rapist”.
“I was a fool, guy. I was a fool before living in the Lord’s light. I was drug addict, a drug addict and a fool,” said Brand. “But what I have never been was a rapist. I never participated in a non -consensual activity, and I pray so that you can see this by looking at me. I want to thank you all for your continuous support.”
Brand said he was planning to defend the accusations in court.
“And, of course, I will now have the opportunity to defend these accusations in court, and I am incredibly grateful for it,” concluded Brand. “In the meantime, you stay free. And we will continue to discuss this question. Rent the Lord. “
The brand will appear before the London Westminster magistrates court in May.
The brand faces a trial in the United States
The brand also faces allegations of sexual assault in a trial in the United States
A woman nicknamed “Jane Doe” filed a distinct case of civil sexual assault in New York in November 2023, according to the judicial archives.
This affair accuses the actor of having sexually assaulted the woman in a bathroom and exposing her genitals on the set of the film “Arthur”. The alleged incidents took place in 2010, the complaint reported.
In July of the same year, Brand exposed his genitals to the woman “at the sight of distribution and the team”, as well as the production team of the film and the employees of Warner Bros.
The same day, Brand stuck the woman in a bathroom and again exposed herself to her, according to the complaint. He then assaulted her sexually.
The trial is still pending before the courts.
The Russell brand is gaining popularity on Christian podcasts
Since the baptism of Brand last year, he appeared on many Christian podcasts and has presented Christian influencers on his own podcast.
Christian Prophetic Minister Shawn Bolz and the evangelical commentator Allies Beth Stuckey both gave loss coverage last year to the history of Brand’s conversion to their respective podcasts.
On the brand’s own podcast, he presented Christian celebrities such as the creator chosen Dallas Jenkins and the conservative commentator Matt Walsh.
Brand has sadly baptized a friend while wearing his underwear, according to an article on X.
In an interview with Fox News host, Tucker Carlson in 2023, Brand said: “Like many desperate people, I need spirituality. I need God, or I can’t face this world. I need to believe in the best people. ”
Liz Lykins is a correspondent covering the news of religion for the Roys report, the World Magazine and other publications.
