Russell Brand has pleaded not guilty to two additional sexual assault charges as the criminal case against the comedian and actor continues to expand in the United Kingdom.
Brand appeared briefly at Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday, where he confirmed his identity and formally denied the latest allegations. The new charges relate to alleged incidents involving two women in London in 2009. These accusations come on top of five earlier charges connected to alleged incidents that prosecutors say occurred between 1999 and 2005. Brand has strongly denied all claims.
The case first gained major public attention in 2023 after a joint investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times reported allegations of historical sexual misconduct involving the comedian. Following a police investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service filed criminal charges in April 2025, saying there was sufficient evidence to proceed and that prosecuting the case was in the public interest.
Brand previously entered not guilty pleas to the earlier charges in May, and a trial has been scheduled for June 3, 2026. With the addition of the two new allegations, prosecutors are now considering whether the latest counts should be merged with the existing case or handled separately in a different trial. A decision on that issue is expected during a court hearing in March.
If the court decides to combine the cases, the trial could cover allegations spanning nearly a decade of Brand’s early career, when he was rising to fame as a comedian, television host, and media personality in the UK. Authorities say specialized officers are continuing to support the women who have come forward during the ongoing legal process.
Brand has repeatedly maintained his innocence in public statements. In videos posted online, he has acknowledged that his past lifestyle was “very promiscuous,” but has firmly rejected any suggestion that his relationships were non-consensual or involved criminal behavior.
For now, the case remains in its early procedural stages. Brand is free on bail while awaiting trial, and like any defendant in the British legal system, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The next major development is expected when the court decides whether the newest charges will be folded into the upcoming June trial.
