Comedian Russell Brand pleaded not guilty in a London court on Tuesday to two additional charges of rape and sexual assault nearly two decades ago.
Brand, once one of Britain’s most high-profile broadcasters and former husband of American singer Katy Perry, appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London and denied charges of raping a woman and sexually assaulting a second woman in 2009.
Last year he was charged with two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of indecent assault on four women between 1999 and 2005.
Brand pleaded not guilty to these five charges in May last year and will stand trial in June. A hearing will take place next month to decide whether the new charges should be added to the case. Brand’s lawyer says his client needs more time to address the latest violations.
Brand, 50, arrived at the court wearing a white cowboy hat and sunglasses. When asked how he felt, Brand, who said he became a Christian in 2024, told reporters he felt “blessed.”
Brand was a regular on British screens in the 2000s. He was known for his flamboyant style and appearance, and also worked as a radio presenter for the BBC.
He also starred in a number of films, including “Get Him to the Greek” in 2010, the same year he married Perry. They divorced in 2012 after 14 months of marriage.
By the early 1920s, Brand had disappeared from mainstream culture and has since appeared largely online, expressing his views on American politics and freedom of speech.
