Russell Brand: Comedian breaks silence at gig after Dispatches claims

The audio was played in Channel 4’s Dispatches programme on Saturday.

Scandal-ridden comedian. Hollywood husband. Drug addict-turned-wellness-guru. Left-wing activist. Conspiracy theorist.

Over the course of two decades in the spotlight, the British stand-up and presenter Russell Brand has put forward many different personas to the public.

Now, another, darker side to the comic has emerged, after he released a video to deny “serious criminal allegations from four women, one as young as 16, covering period from 2006 to 2013”, which he said related to his “promiscuous” past.

Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse while he was at the height of his fame.

Four women have alleged sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013, while the comedian and actor also faces allegations of controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour, following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches.

Brand strenuously denies the allegations.

Here is a timeline of the allegations made against Brand:

A woman claims she was sexually assaulted by Brand during a three-month relationship when she was 16 and still at school in 2006.

Commentator Tucker Carlson backed comedian Russell Brand after he posted a video on social media denying the sexual assault allegations.

“Criticize the drug companies, question the war in Ukraine, and you can be pretty sure this is going to happen,” Carlson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The claims, which have now been published by The Sunday Times and Channel 4, detail the alleged rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse of four women between 2006 and 2013.

Russell Brand’s personal life was once the subject of regular media headlines, surrounded by scandal and controversy due to his very public antics.

In recent years, however, Brand, 44, appears to have made efforts to keep his home life out of the spotlight, following a tumultuous marriage and subsequent divorce from pop star Katy Perry.

Russell Brand performed at his sold-out stand-up comedy show in London as he faced allegations of sexual assault.

He was seen arriving at the 2,000-seater Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London on Saturday evening. The performance had been due to begin at 7pm but was delayed by more than 45 minutes because the comedian was reportedly stuck in traffic.

The show took place as a documentary was shown on Channel 4 detailing his alleged sexual abuse.

Mr Brand faces allegations from four women, one as young as 16, covering the period from 2006 to 2013 – all of which he denies. Others have accused Mr Brand of predatory and abusive behaviour, which Mr Brand also denies.

Comedian Russell Brand also appeared to receive support from Andrew Tate, the former kickboxing champion turned influencer charged with rape and human trafficking in Romania. Mr Tate has denied any wrongdoing.

“Welcome to the club,” Mr Tate wrote, tagging Mr Brand’s X account and sharing an image of a cartoon knight with the caption: “On my way to fight the crazy b**** allegations.”

Mr Brand’s sister-in-law, TV and radio broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher, also appeared to support him, as she shared his video along with a red heart emoji to her Instagram Stories.

Russell Brand told audience members there were things he could not discuss as he performed a comedy gig to thousands of people hours after allegations of rape, sexual assault and coercive behaviour against him were published.

Four women have alleged sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013, when Brand was at the height of his fame, in a joint investigation The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. He denies all allegations.

The 48-year-old arrived late to his show, Bipolarisation, at the Troubadour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London on Saturday evening.

Russell Brand has arrived at his sold-out stand-up comedy show in London as he faces allegations of sexual assault.

He was seen arriving at the 2,000-seater Troubabour Wembley Park theatre in north-west London on Saturday evening. The performance had been due to begin at 7pm but was delayed by more than 45 minutes because the comedian was reportedly stuck in traffic.