Russell Brand found guilty of rape and sexual assault

Allegations about Brand’s behaviour first emerged in the media in September 2023.

The Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches programme jointly reported that four women had accused him of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse – claims he strongly denied.

The investigation into other reports against Brand began soon after the story broke.

Brand first rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name as host of TV shows such as Big Brother’s Big Mouth, and with his own radio programmes on stations including BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music.

He went on to establish a Hollywood career, starring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek. He was married to pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2012.

In recent years he has reinvented himself as an online social, political and religious commentator.

Channel 4, which aired Big Brother and its spin-off programmes at the time Brand was a presenter, said in a statement: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the six women involved in the case against Russell Brand, including those affected by the crimes for which he has been convicted.

“We recognise the profound impact of these crimes and commend the extraordinary courage of all those who gave evidence as prosecution witnesses at trial.”

Louisa Compton, Channel 4’s director of news, digital and audience trust, added that the outcome of the trial “belongs to all of the women who had the courage to speak out”.

She cited “all of those who participated in the criminal process and those different women who shared their testimony” in the channel’s investigation with the Times and Sunday Times.

“The trial heard that women involved in the criminal case came forward after seeing the Channel 4 Dispatches film,” she said.