Russell Brand's Rape Trial Begins as Jury Is Sworn In London

Comedian and actor Russell Brand's long-awaited trial on rape and sexual assault charges is underway in London, with a jury now sworn in to hear the case.

Brand, 51, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday as jury selection began, and a jury of eight men and four women was chosen on Tuesday. One reserve juror was also selected to sit through the start of the prosecution's case. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Charges Against Brand

Brand faces seven charges in total: three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault. The charges involve six women and relate to alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009, when Brand was rising to fame in British television and radio, CBS News reported.

He denies all of the allegations and remains on bail during the trial. London's Metropolitan Police charged him in April 2025 following an investigation that began after the allegations were first reported in 2023.

Under British law, the women who have made allegations in the case are entitled to lifelong anonymity and cannot be identified in media coverage of the trial or afterward.

Judge Warns Jurors

Judge Joel Bennathan, who is overseeing the case, took steps to ensure the jury would decide the case only on the evidence presented in court.

On Monday, the judge started with 50 potential jurors and excused six who said they had seen a 2023 Channel 4 documentary or read a newspaper article about Brand from that year. Twenty possible jurors were kept overnight for further checks on whether they could serve.

Once the jury was chosen, the judge told its members to ignore any past reporting about Brand. "Don't carry out any research," he told them, advising that they could look into the case only after returning their verdicts, The Irish Times reported.

What Happens Next

Jurors were then sent home until Wednesday morning, when prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones is expected to begin laying out the prosecution's case.

The trial is expected to last about six weeks but could stretch to nine or 10 weeks, according to reports from the courtroom in London.

Brand arrived at court shortly after 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday and greeted the waiting press with a brief "blessed, thank you very much." His wife, Laura Gallacher, whom he married in 2017, accompanied him to court on Monday but was not seen with him on Tuesday.

From Comedy Star to Online Personality

Brand became a household name in Britain in the early 2000s, hosting television programs and his own BBC radio show. He was known for his risqué stand-up comedy and has spoken openly over the years about his past struggles with drugs and alcohol.

He later found Hollywood success with roles in films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Get Him to the Greek." He was also briefly married to pop star Katy Perry, with the couple wedding in 2010 and divorcing in 2012.

In recent years, Brand has stepped away from mainstream media and built a large online following. His content focuses on wellness, his religious faith and commentary that critics say has promoted conspiracy theories. He has since relocated to the United States, settling in Florida with his family.

Brand has consistently denied wrongdoing since the allegations first became public in 2023. The case now rests with the jury, which will hear evidence from both the prosecution and the defense over the coming weeks before reaching a verdict.

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