Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Russell Brand

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Russell Brand.

Russell Brand is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, and media personality. Beginning as a stand-up and MTV presenter, he gained prominence hosting 'Big Brother's Big Mouth'. He transitioned to film, starring in comedies like 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Arthur'. Brand has released several stand-up specials, including 'Scandalous' and 'Messiah Complex'. He's also a radio host with 'The Russell Brand Show' and hosts podcasts like 'Stay Free with Russell Brand' and 'Under the Skin with Russell Brand'. Brand has received British Comedy Awards and a BAFTA nomination. More recently Brand has become known for his political commentary and activism, often promoting anti-establishment views.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1999: Incidents alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2005

In April 2025, Russell Brand was charged with multiple counts of sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police. The charges related to alleged offenses against four women, with the incidents alleged to have occurred in Westminster and Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005.

September 2001: Dismissal from MTV

Several days after the 11 September 2001 attacks, Russell Brand was dismissed from MTV after coming to work dressed as Osama bin Laden and bringing his drug dealer to the MTV studios.

2003: Allegation made to the Metropolitan Police

Following the initial accusations in September 2023, another allegation was made to the Metropolitan Police of a sexual assault that took place in 2003.

2003: Allegation of sexual assault in Soho, London

In 2003, an alleged incident of sexual assault by Russell Brand took place in Soho, London. This allegation predates the period of alleged incidents covered in The Sunday Times and Channel 4 investigations.

2005: Incidents alleged to have occurred between 1999 and 2005

2006: Vanessa Feltz releases clip of Brand's inappropriate behavior

In 2006, Vanessa Feltz released a clip from Russell Brand's TV show where he made sexually suggestive comments towards her and her daughters, which she found deeply offensive.

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2006: Investigations of offences between 2006 and 2013

In November 2024, detectives sent the Crown Prosecution Service a file of evidence so the prosecutors could consider bringing charges against Russell Brand for offences alleged between 2006 and 2013.

2006: Sexual assault allegation period begins

In September 2023, following a joint investigation, five women publicly accused Russell Brand of sexual assault and sexual and emotional abuse, concerning incidents beginning in 2006 and continuing to 2013. These allegations were featured in the episode Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.

2007: Lorraine Kelly uncomfortable after Brand's behavior on The Graham Norton Show

In 2007, Lorraine Kelly reported feeling uncomfortable during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show after Russell Brand touched her thigh and made a derogatory comment.

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2008: Hoax Call to Police

During a live show in Northampton in 2008, Russell Brand made a hoax call to police, pretending to be a witness to assaults. He later apologized for the call, which was widely condemned.

2008: Alleged exposure at BBC's Los Angeles office

In 2008, Russell Brand allegedly exposed himself to a woman at the BBC's Los Angeles office and laughed about it on his BBC Radio 2 show minutes later. This information resurfaced in September 2023 when the woman came forward with her accusation.

2008: Hosting the MTV Video Music Awards

In 2008, Russell Brand hosted the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which led to controversy due to his comments on Britney Spears, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush.

2008: Comments at MTV VMAs and Comedy Live Show

Russell Brand hosted the 2008 MTV VMAs, which led to death threats and controversy. On January 25, 2008, Channel 4 showed Comedy Live Presents: Russell Brand and Friends.

September 2010: Arrested on suspicion of battery at LAX

On 16 September 2010, Russell Brand was arrested on suspected battery charges after he allegedly attacked a paparazzo who blocked his and then-fiancée Katy Perry's way to catch a flight at Los Angeles International Airport. He was released the next day after posting US$20,000 bail.

2010: Alleged assault during production of "Arthur"

In 2010, during the production of the film Arthur (released in 2011), Russell Brand allegedly exposed himself and later trapped and assaulted a woman in a bathroom. She was an extra on the film. This led to a lawsuit filed against him and Warner Bros in November 2023.

2010: Civil Action Filed in New York

On April 7, 2025, news outlets reported that Russell Brand was the subject of a civil action case filed in New York state, accusing him of sexual assault whilst intoxicated during the filming of Arthur in 2010. The case also names Warner Bros. Discovery and others.

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March 2012: Arrest warrant issued for Brand in New Orleans

On 15 March 2012, an arrest warrant was issued for Russell Brand in New Orleans because of allegations that he had thrown a photographer's mobile phone through a window while filming a movie. The warrant cited "simple criminal damage to property."

September 2013: Brand's Speech at GQ Awards

In September 2013, during his acceptance speech at the GQ Awards, Russell Brand, after receiving the "Oracle" award, made a remark about Hugo Boss's history with the Gestapo and imitated the Nazi march. He was subsequently ejected from the event after GQ editor Dylan Jones confronted him, deeming the speech offensive.

October 2013: Newsnight Interview

In October 2013, Russell Brand was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on BBC's Newsnight where he criticized the British political system, discouraged voting, and discussed his views on revolution.

November 2013: The Sun publishes story alleging infidelity to Khan

In November 2013, The Sun printed a story alleging that Russell Brand had been unfaithful to Jemima Khan.

2013: Investigations of offences between 2006 and 2013

In November 2024, detectives sent the Crown Prosecution Service a file of evidence so the prosecutors could consider bringing charges against Russell Brand for offences alleged between 2006 and 2013.

2013: Sexual assault allegation period ends

In September 2023, following a joint investigation, five women publicly accused Russell Brand of sexual assault and sexual and emotional abuse, concerning incidents between 2006 and 2013. These allegations were featured in the episode Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.

October 2014: Criticism for Book 'Revolution'

In October 2014, around the time of the publication of his book Revolution, John Lydon criticized Brand's advocacy of non-voting as "the most idiotic thing I've ever heard".

October 2014: Vanity Fair article on misogyny allegations

In the October 2014 issue of Vanity Fair, Russell Brand addressed the allegations of misogyny made against him.

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November 2014: YouGov Poll Results

In November 2014, Russell Brand was identified as the celebrity with the most negative influence on political debate, according to a YouGov poll, with 60% of participants disliking him.

December 2014: Protest Over New Era Housing Estate Rents

In December 2014, Russell Brand joined East London residents to protest rising rents at the New Era housing estate. A Channel 4 News reporter's line of questioning about Brand's property value led to Brand calling the reporter "snide", a clip which went viral.

January 2015: Insulting Ed Balls on Channel 4

In January 2015, Russell Brand insulted politician Ed Balls on Channel 4's Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, leading to Balls calling Brand a "pound shop Ben Elton".

2020: Allegation made against Brand

In 2020 an allegation was made against Russell Brand which he vehemently denied. His agent Tavistock Wood believed they were horribly misled by him.

September 2021: COVID-19 Safety Measures Bypass

In September 2021, Russell Brand shared information on how to bypass COVID-19 safety measures with attendees of his tour.

September 2022: Move to Rumble

In September 2022, after YouTube removed one of his videos for violating its medical misinformation policy, Russell Brand moved his channel to Rumble and launched a new daily live show, Stay Free with Russell Brand.

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2022: Reaction to WHO Meetings on Pandemic Treaty

In 2022, Russell Brand reacted to the World Health Organization's meetings on the pandemic treaty, saying "Your democracy is fucking finished" and that the world had "lapsed into a terrible technocratic, globalist agenda". Early that year, Brand also released a video decrying the media for allegedly ignoring the Canada convoy protest.

March 2023: Criticism of Political Direction

In March 2023, Finn McRedmond of The New Statesman described Russell Brand as having melded his "trad-socialist values" with "all the suspicions and anxieties of the new American right".

September 2023: Brand postpones tour amid accusations

In September 2023, Russell Brand performed at Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and expressed gratitude for support while acknowledging limitations on what he could discuss. Later in September 2023, the remaining dates of his tour were postponed, and he was dropped by his agent, Tavistock Wood, due to accusations of being misled regarding allegations.

September 2023: Allegations of Sexual Assault and Emotional Abuse

In September 2023, allegations from four women were published accusing Russell Brand of sexual assaults and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, following a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches. A fifth woman accused him of flashing his genitals at her.

September 2023: Sexual Assault Allegations

September 2023: Police receive allegation of sexual assault against Brand

On September 17, 2023, the Metropolitan Police received an allegation of sexual assault against Russell Brand, said to have occurred in Soho, London, in 2003.

September 2023: Woman accuses Brand of exposing himself at BBC office

On September 21, 2023, a woman accused Russell Brand of exposing himself to her at the BBC's Los Angeles office in 2008, and then laughing about it minutes later on his BBC Radio 2 show.

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November 2023: Lawsuit filed against Brand under New York's Adult Survivors Act

In November 2023, a woman filed a lawsuit against Russell Brand under New York's Adult Survivors Act, alleging that in 2010 he exposed himself, trapped, and assaulted her in a bathroom during the production of the comedy film Arthur (2011). Warner Bros. and others involved in Arthur's production were also named as defendants for neglecting, aiding, and abetting misconduct by Brand on the film set.

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November 2023: Brand questioned by police in connection with alleged sexual assaults

On November 19, 2023, Russell Brand was questioned by police regarding alleged sexual assaults.

November 2024: Evidence file sent to Crown Prosecution Service

In November 2024, detectives investigating allegations of offences between 2006 and 2013 sent the Crown Prosecution Service a file of evidence for prosecutors to consider bringing charges against Russell Brand.

February 2025: Brand sued for sexual abuse at the High Court of Justice in London

On 6 February 2025, Russell Brand was sued for sexual abuse at the High Court of Justice in London.

April 2025: Brand charged with multiple counts of sexual assault

On 4 April 2025, Russell Brand was charged by Metropolitan Police with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape, and two counts of sexual assault. The charges related to alleged offenses against four women, with the incidents alleged to have occurred in Westminster and Bournemouth between 1999 and 2005. Brand denied the charges.

April 2025: News reports of Brand being subject of civil action case

On 7 April 2025, news outlets reported Russell Brand to be the subject of a previously mentioned civil action case filed in New York state, accusing him of sexual assault whilst intoxicated during the filming of "Arthur." Concerns were raised that the two legal actions (the UK criminal charges and the US civil case) may prejudice each other.

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April 2025: Civil Action Filed in New York

May 2025: Brand appears in court and pleads not guilty

On 2 May 2025, Russell Brand appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court for his first hearing and was granted bail. He confirmed his personal details and that he understood his bail conditions. He refuted the charges outside of court. On 30 May 2025 the case was referred to the Old Bailey with the next hearing set and Brand entered a plea of not guilty.

October 2025: Deadline extended to submit deposition for US lawsuit

In April 2025, the news reported that Russell Brand was accused in the civil action case filed in New York state, accusing him of sexual assault whilst intoxicated, whilst filming Arthur. While his legal team's request for a delay was rejected, the deadline to submit his deposition for the US lawsuit was extended to 30 October 2025.