British comedian Russell Brand has been charged with rape and sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police in London—months after he relocated his entire family to Florida to escape “attacks” by the “media, government, and judiciary.”
According to the Associated Press, Brand, 49, who was previously married to pop star Katy Perry, and now shares three children with wife Laura, is facing one count of rape, one of indecent assault, one of oral rape, and two of sexual assault.
Brand quickly denied all charges, sharing a video statement on his X account, in which he insisted that he has “never engaged in non-consensual activity,” while conceding that he had acted like “a fool” when he was “young and single.”
“I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family, who were just about a shot over there, my beautiful children, I was a fool, man,” he said in the video, which appears to have been shot in Florida.
Brand, who is seen sporting a sun hat and a robe while sitting on a porch that overlooks the ocean, went on: “I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict and an imbecile, but what I never was was a rapist.”
(X/Russell Brand)
Brand went on to attack the British government, saying that he has “no trust” in it, while claiming that the “law has become a kind of weapon.”
He added that he is “grateful” he will now have the opportunity to defend himself against the accusations in court, with AP reporting that he is due to appear in front of a magistrate in London on May 2.
The alleged offenses are understood to involve four women and took place between 1999 and 2005. Police have already interviewed Brand about the allegations—which were first brought to light in 2023, when The Sunday Times and Channel 4, two British media outlets, released an expose in which Brand’s accusers claimed they had been assaulted or raped by the comedian.
Brand vehemently denied all accusations of “non-consensual activity” at the time.
However, less than one year later, he is understood to have moved his family from their home in Oxfordshire in favor of a rental property in the Sunshine State, where he is reportedly living in a $2 million home in Santa Rosa Beach.
Although he has not revealed when exactly he moved, it has been reported by multiple outlets that he relocated shortly before the 2024 presidential election. Images taken of the comedian show him enjoying public events in the Santa Rosa Beach area as early as October of that year.
The Times reported in February that Brand, his wife, and their three children had been living in a $3.3 million home in the U.K. before their move. It is unclear if they have since sold it.
Brand has also not yet confirmed whether he is planning to purchase a home in the U.S., where he is currently renting a property.
(Realtor.com)
In the lead-up to his move, the comedian and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” star had been making efforts to connect with members of now-President Donald Trump‘s inner circle, interviewing Don Trump Jr. at his Florida home in 2024 and attending a black-tie dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where he received a Global Defender of Freedom Award.
Most recently, Brand sat down for an in-depth interview with Fox News host—and newly minted Florida resident—Sean Hannity, during which he opened up about his past addictions and his Christian faith.
Since moving to Santa Rosa Beach, the comedian has reportedly been seen attending church services, as well as yoga sessions, with one local telling The Sun that Brand “always says hello” when they see him.
It is not the first time that Brand has resided in the U.S., having previously owned multiple properties in Los Angeles—including a $6.5 million Mediterranean-style home in the Hollywood Hills, which he shared with Perry, his wife at the time.
Before that, he was reported to have been living in a 1920s abode nearby, which he purchased for $2.2 million in 2013.
Most recently, he snapped up a three-bedroom, five-bathroom Spanish-style property, also in the Hollywood Hills, this time paying $3 million.
The home, which Brand bought in 2019, was built in 1956. The original listing noted that it had since undergone several renovations. He put that property on the market for $3.5 million in summer 2024.
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