NEW: UK police charged disgraced comedian and actor turned MAGA personality Russell Brand with five counts of rape and sexual assault
In a stunning development that has rocked both the entertainment world and political spheres, British police have charged Russell Brand, the once-celebrated comedian and actor who has recently reinvented himself as a vocal MAGA supporter, with five counts of rape and sexual assault. The announcement, made by London’s Metropolitan Police on April 4, 2025, follows an 18-month investigation sparked by allegations from four women who claim they were assaulted by Brand between 1999 and 2005. The charges—one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape, and two of sexual assault—mark a dramatic fall from grace for a man who transitioned from Hollywood stardom to a polarizing figure in America’s conservative movement, leaving his past admirers and new allies grappling with the fallout.
Brand, 50, rose to fame in the early 2000s as a provocative stand-up comedian in the UK, known for his sharp wit and boundary-pushing humor. His career soared with roles in films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek, alongside high-profile gigs hosting Big Brother spinoffs and BBC radio shows. Married briefly to pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012, he was a fixture in tabloids, his wild persona fueled by admitted struggles with addiction and promiscuity. But by the early 2020s, Brand had faded from mainstream limelight, pivoting to a YouTube channel and Rumble platform where he amassed millions of followers with commentary on free speech, spirituality, and U.S. politics—most notably aligning with Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” ethos after moving to Florida in 2024.
The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred long before his MAGA turn, rooted in his peak years of fame. According to the Metropolitan Police, one woman claims Brand raped her in Bournemouth in 1999, while three others allege assaults—indecent, oral, and sexual—in London’s Westminster area between 2001 and 2005. The investigation kicked off in September 2023 after a bombshell Channel 4 Dispatches documentary and Sunday Times report aired claims from four women about assaults between 2006 and 2013. While those reports triggered public outrage and internal probes at the BBC and Channel 4, the formal charges announced this week focus on earlier incidents, painting a picture of a pattern of behavior that’s now catching up with him.
Brand’s response was swift and defiant. In a video posted to X hours after the charges dropped, he denied all allegations, saying, “I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity.” Calling the legal action a “weapon” against him, he framed it as retribution for his outspoken views, a narrative that’s resonated with his MAGA base. “They’re coming for him because he’s with Trump,” one X user posted, reflecting a swell of support from fans who see the charges as politically motivated. Others, though, see vindication: “Karma’s finally here—years too late,” another wrote, capturing the anger of those who’ve long viewed him as untouchable.
The timing raises eyebrows. Brand’s shift to MAGA darling—spotted at Trump’s 2024 RNC speech, praising his policies on Rumble—coincided with renewed scrutiny of his past. His baptism in the Thames in 2024 and embrace of Christianity won him new fans, but critics argue it was a rebrand to dodge accountability. The Crown Prosecution Service, led by Jaswant Narwal, insists the charges stem from evidence, not politics, reviewed meticulously since the 2023 exposé. “These are non-recent offences, and he has the right to a fair trial,” Narwal stressed, urging restraint in public commentary as Brand is set to face Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
The fallout’s already seismic. Brand’s Hollywood days are a distant memory—his agent, Tavistock Wood, and charities like Trevi cut ties in 2023—and his U.S.-based career now hangs in the balance. Living in Florida, he faces potential extradition if he doesn’t return voluntarily, a process complicated by his ties to Trump allies like incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On X, MAGA voices rally: “The UK deep state hates him for waking people up,” one claimed, while liberals retort, “He doesn’t get a pass because he’s Team Trump.” The divide mirrors America’s own, with Brand a lightning rod in both nations.
For the accusers, supported by trained officers, it’s about justice delayed. The Met’s Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy says the probe remains open, urging others to come forward. Meanwhile, Brand’s 11 million X followers and 6 million YouTube subscribers await his next move—will he fight in court or lean harder into his martyr narrative? His past boasts of promiscuity, once a badge of honor, now haunt him as evidence mounts. Whatever the outcome, this saga’s a collision of celebrity, politics, and reckoning—a disgraced star’s unraveling that’s only just begun.
