Sept. 25 (UPI) — London Police have launched an investigation into comedian and actor Russell Brand for allegations of sexual offenses in the United Kingdom.
Brand, 48, is accused of engaging in rape and sexual assault with several women during the years 2006 to 2013. These allegations emerged as a result of investigations carried out by multiple British media outlets.
“Following an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and The Sunday Times, the Met has received a number of allegations of sexual offenses in London,” stated London’s Metropolitan Police in a released statement on Monday.
“We have also received a number of allegations of sexual offenses committed elsewhere in the country and will investigate these. The offenses are all non-recent,” added the police force.
Among the allegations is the claim that Brand raped a woman with whom he previously had consensual relations. He is also accused of “grooming” a 16-year-old girl.
Brand has publicly denied these allegations. In a three-minute video clip he shared on Friday, he described the claims as “extraordinary and distressing,” and blamed media censorship.
“You are probably aware that the British government have asked big tech platforms to censor our online content and some online platforms have complied with that request,” Brand said in a post on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Last week, YouTube demonetized Brand’s channel in response to the rape and assault allegations. Additionally, several major companies, including Burger King, Asos, the Barbican, and HelloFresh, have removed their ads from his videos on Rumble.
Brand was previously married to pop star Katy Perry from 2010 to 2011. In a 2013 interview with Vogue, Perry described their relationship as “really hurtful” and “very controlling.”
While Brand dismisses the rape and assault allegations as a “coordinated attack” due to his conspiracy theories and COVID denialism, the police are urging the public to come forward with more information.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offense, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us,” said Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy.
“We understand it can feel like a difficult step to take, and I want to reassure that we have a team of specialist officers available to advise and support.”
