Russell Brand is facing new charges of rape and sexual assault after prosecutors determined there is “sufficient evidence” to move forward.
In a news release shared Tuesday (Dec. 23), the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which serves England and Wales, announced new charges against the formerly ubiquitous pop culture figure in connection with a rape alleged to have occurred in 2009 and a sexual assault alleged to have occurred that same year.
“These new charges relate to separate reports of non-recent offenses in 2009, involving two additional women,” Lionel Idan, CPS Chief Crown Prosecutor, said Tuesday. “These additional charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring these additional charges to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue further criminal proceedings.”
Brand, previously charged with rape and four other counts over allegations from different accusers, is slated to appear in court on the newly announced charges next month.
Complex has reached out to CPS reps for comment. This story may be updated.
Brand appeared to broadly reference the new charges in a video shared to his Instagram on Tuesday, telling followers, in part, he was grateful for “the opportunity to ensure that people understand the truth of my situation and scenario.”
Previously announced charges against the 50-year-old Get Him to the Greek star include rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault. In May, he appeared in court, ultimately pleading not guilty. A trial on those charges is expected to begin next June.
“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord,” Brand said in a video shared to IG in April. “I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile. But what I never was was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in nonconsensual activity. I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes.”
While Brand was once known for various American comedies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and the aforementioned Get Him to the Greek, not to mention his past relationship with Katy Perry, these days he appears to have fully ingratiated himself with the right-wing grifter universe.
For example, the most recent upload to his YouTube channel as of this writing documents his appearance at a Turning Point USA conference that featured a Righteous Gemstones-esque array of pyrotechnics.