Russell Brand Takes the Stand and Denies All Charges

Russell Brand has given evidence in his own defence at Southwark Crown Court in London, and he has denied every charge against him. The actor and comedian, 51, took the stand as the defence case began, according to Deadline.

When his lawyer, Ian Winter, put each charge to him, Brand answered "no" loudly, the report says. He faces three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault. The charges are based on allegations made by six women. One charge was reduced from indecent assault to attempted indecent assault before the trial.

Brand is presumed innocent unless and until a jury finds otherwise. The allegations are not proven facts.

The prosecution has put several accounts to the jury. A woman told police that Brand grabbed her breasts and then dragged her into a toilet at a bar, Reuters reported. Another complainant told the court that Brand anally raped her after she had gone to his house willingly for sex, and that he ignored her pleas, Reuters reported. Prosecutors have described Brand as "ruthless" in the way they say he behaved.

The prosecution closed its case with evidence about a conversation between one complainant and a journalist from The Times. That newspaper broke the Brand allegations story alongside Channel 4.

Brand's own account was read to the court too. It was a prepared statement he gave to police in interviews between 2023 and 2025. In it, he said he had sexual encounters in countless locations and situations, often with people he had only just met. He denied ever having non-consensual sex.

On the stand, Brand spoke about his life. He said meeting his ex-wife, Katy Perry, brought "staggering fame" and a sea change in his life. He also told the court he was barred from visiting his son in hospital while the boy had open-heart surgery. He said this happened after a Channel 4 documentary about the allegations was broadcast.

His wife, Laura Gallacher, was in court on the day he gave evidence. She has been beside him at every session of the trial.

The trial continues. Jurors will hear the rest of the defence case before they consider their verdicts.