British police are investigating comedian and actor Russell Brand allegations of past sexual crimes have handed over a file of evidence to prosecutors so they can consider whether to charge him.
The Crown Prosecution Service said late on Saturday that “we have received a file from the police to consider a charging decision in this case. Any decision to bring charges will be made independently, based on the evidence and in accordance with our legal review.”
Detectives from London’s Metropolitan Police have questioned 49-year-old Brand three times about alleged ‘non-recent sexual offences’.
“Our investigation is continuing and a file has now been passed to the CPS,” said Detective Chief Inspector Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation. “We have a team of dedicated officers providing specialist support to the women who have come forward. We are committed to investigating sexual crimes, regardless of how long ago they may have occurred.”
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In September 2023, British media outlets Channel 4 and the Sunday Times published claims of four women of sexual abuse or rape by Brand between 2006 and 2013, at the height of his fame.
Another woman who accused Brand told CBS News partner network BBC News that she was working in the same building as the BBC’s Los Angeles office when the incident occurred. She said Brand laughed about it moments later during his radio show.
The accusers have not been identified.
The comedian, author and ‘Get Him To The Greek’ actor has denied the allegations, saying his relationships were ‘always consensual’.
Known for his unbridled and daring stand-up routines, Brand has hosted shows on radio and television, written memoirs chronicling his battle with drugs and alcohol, appeared in several Hollywood films and was briefly married to pop star Katy between 2010 and 2012 Perry.
In recent years, Brand has largely disappeared from mainstream media, but has built a large following online with videos that combine welfare and conspiracy theories.
In an exclusive interview with “CBS Mornings” after the allegations were made public, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan defended the platform’s decision to suspend monetization of Brand’s channel, citing YouTube’s Creator Responsibility Policy.
“If creators engage in off-platform behavior, or if there is news off-platform that could be harmful to the broader creator ecosystem, you may be excluded from our monetization program,” Mohan said. “It has affected a number of creators and personalities on the platform in the past. And that is what transpired in this particular case around the serious allegations.”
