Brand is facing two new charges, one for rape and one for sexual assault, after previously being accused by four women of related offenses.

Russell Brand calls court sketch ‘an injustice’ after facing rape and sexual assault charges

Brand is facing two new charges, one for rape and one for sexual assault, after previously being accused by four women of related offenses.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

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January 22, 2026 11:21 p.m. ET

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Russell Brand heading out of court in London in May 2025. Credit:

Jack Taylor/Getty

After being hit with two additional counts of rape and sexual assault on top of five similar charges he previously pleaded not guilty to, Russell Brand is speaking out... about a courtroom sketch.

"Never mind anything else. This court sketch is an injustice," Brand wrote in a post shared to his X account on Wednesday. He included a screenshot of an article on his recent court appearance related to the two new charges that ran in *The Independent *the day before, which prominently featured the sketch.

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Brand wore a blue denim shirt unbuttoned midway down when he appeared at the Westminster Magistrates' Court via video link from Florida. The sketch reflects his attire and showcases his long, brown locks and facial hair.

The* Get Him to the Greek* actor, 50, was charged in December with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. The charges stem from two separate incidents alleged by two different women. The BBC reported that the incidents allegedly occurred in 2009.**

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Brand was previously hit with a set of similar charges in April.

The U.K.'s Metropolitan Police Service charged Brand with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault in April, connected to incidents reported by four different women that allegedly occurred between 1999 and 2005.

The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges the following month. A trial is set to begin at the Southwark Crown Court on June 16, 2026.

Russell Brand in 2017.

Jeff Spicer/Getty

Brand spoke out about the allegations in a reel shared to his Instagram the same day that he was charged.

"I've always told you guys when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family... I was a fool, man. I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord," he said. "I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was, was a rapist... I've never engaged in non-consensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes."**

*If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org*.

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