Russell Brand Forcefully Denies Charges As He Gives Evidence During Rape Trial

Russell Brand has taken the stand this morning as his defense in the trial at Southwark Crown Court begins, with the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star saying his “entire life has been consumed by these allegations.” Wearing an open white shirt and blazer, Brand was called forwards to the dock, said his name and forcefully denied all allegations put to him by his lawyer Ian Winter. He replied “no” to each charge loudly as he was asked. “My entire life has been consumed by these allegations,” said Brand. “I’ve devoted myself to these matters.” He was asked about his level of fame at the time of the allegations and was asked about his meeting ex-wife Katy Perry, and how this impacted his fame. Watch on Deadline “Staggering fame” he responded to the question of whether his meeting superstar Perry brought about a sea change in his life. After the Channel 4 documentary about the allegations was aired in 2023, Brand told the court he was not allowed to visit his son who was receiving open heart surgery in a London hospital. He claimed he was told “due to the material that had been published in the public eye they had to bar my attendance and presence.” “They were unclear aboout what particular reason there was but that was the reason they gave to my wife Laura and I,” he told the court. Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher is in court today and has been alongside him every day of the trial. Brand faces three charges of rape, three counts of sexual assault and now one of attempted indecent assault, reduced from indecent assult, based on allegations made by six women. His team has today started setting out its defense. Deadline has been reporting daily from a live video feed of the courtroom since the trial began. The prosecution wrapped this morning with a final piece of evidence concerning a conversation between one of the complainants and a journalist for the Times, which broke news of the Brand allegations alongside Channel 4. Yesterday, a pre-prepared statement that Brand made to police when he was interviewed between 2023 and 2025 was read to the court in which Brand said he “had sexual encounters in countless locations and scenarios, often with people I had just met,” but firmly denied ever having non-consensual sex. The trial continues.