Comedian Russell Brand arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the opening of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault. Brand, accompanied by his wife Laura Gallacher and flanked by security guards, is facing a trial expected to last between 10 and 12 weeks.
Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These offenses are alleged to have taken place between 1999 and 2009 and involve six women. He has been released on bail ahead of the proceedings.
Prosecutors have previously stated that Brand is accused of raping a woman at a hotel during a Labour Party conference. He is also accused of grabbing a TV worker’s breasts and forcing her into a sex act in a toilet, as well as kissing and groping a radio station worker.
Known for his stand-up comedy, past struggles with drugs and alcohol, and roles in films such as “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Get Him to the Greek,” Brand was a prominent figure in the early 2000s. In recent years, he has shifted away from mainstream media, relocating to Florida and cultivating a significant online following through videos that blend wellness, conspiracy theories, and religious discussions.
The Associated Press does not name victims of alleged sexual violence, and British law provides lifelong anonymity for their identities in the media.