Met Police receives Russell Brand sex assault claim dating back to 2003 – as live shows postponed
The Metropolitan Police has said it has received an allegation of sexual assault against Russell Brand dating back to 2003.
It comes after four women made sexual abuse allegations against the star between 2006 and 2013 as part of an investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
The comedian had been due to perform at the Theatre Royal in Windsor on Tuesday – with more dates scheduled in Wolverhampton and Plymouth later this month.
But the tour promoters said in a statement on Monday: “We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it – but we know you’ll understand.”
Since publication, The Times said it had been contacted by “several women” with further claims about Brand, but said their allegations have not yet been investigated and “will now be rigorously checked”.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “We are aware of reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offences.
“On Sunday 17 September, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.
“We first spoke with The Sunday Times on Saturday 16 September and have since made further approaches to The Sunday Times and Channel 4 to ensure that anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual offence is aware of how to report this to the police.
“We continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence, no matter how long ago it was, to contact us.”
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The allegations in full
Stars’ past warnings resurface
From drug addict to controversial comedy star
Brand, 48, denies any allegations against him. He claimed in a video posted online on Friday night that all his relationships have been “consensual”.
On Monday one of his accusers claimed a BBC car took her from school to the star’s house when she was 16 years old.
“Alice” told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour the alleged abusive relationship left her feeling “cheap and dirtied”.
She went on to say Brand’s denial of the accusations was “insulting”, adding: “It’s laughable that he would even imply that this is some kind of mainstream media conspiracy. He’s not outside the mainstream.”
Downing Street has also described the allegations against Brand as “very serious and concerning”.
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‘BBC car took me to Russell Brand’s house’
Channel 4 and TV production firm Banijay UK confirmed over the weekend they had launched investigations, while the BBC said it was “urgently looking into the issues raised”.
The charity Trevi Women, which supports mothers recovering from drug addiction, also announced on Saturday it was cutting ties with Brand.
But the comedian has received backing from several high-profile figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk.
He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: “I support Russell Brand. That man is not evil.”
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Brand performed at a comedy show in London on Saturday evening after the allegations came out, telling fans he loved them but that there were “certain things” he “could not discuss”.
The comedian has three more dates for his Bipolarisation live show tour, with his next a sell-out in Windsor, before appearances in Plymouth and Wolverhampton.
Brand said in his video on Friday: “As I’ve written about extensively in my books, I was very, very promiscuous.
“I don’t mind them using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous consensual conduct in the past. What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations.”
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Brand arrives at gig after sex assault claims
He added: “Also, it’s worth mentioning that there are witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narrative that these two mainstream media outlets are trying to construct, apparently, in what seems to me to be a coordinated attack.”
Signing off the video, Brand said: “We are obviously going to look into this matter ’cause it’s very, very serious.”
Meanwhile the Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed it does not have an open investigation into Brand.
Two of the alleged incidents reported by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches are said to have happened in the US.
A spokesperson for the force also told the PA news agency that no arrests had been made.
Creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise has been handed to Amazon MGM Studios, in a joint venture with the current owners.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – who are the daughter and stepson of film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the man responsible for developing the Bond franchise into the success it is today – will remain co-owners of 007 intellectual property rights.
The pair own EON Productions, the company behind Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre. It has produced 25 films since 1962.
Craig played Bond for a fifth and final time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM
The deal follows speculation over when the next Bond movie – and indeed the next Bond – will be announced.
The last film, No Time To Die, was delivered four years ago to rave reviews and box office success. It was the swansong for Daniel Craig in his performance of the lady-loving spy.
Details of the 26th official Bond film – and its new star – are yet to be revealed.
In a statement on EON Productions website, Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said they were “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”.
Wilson said that after 60 years spent working across the franchise, he would now be focusing on “art and charitable projects”.
Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West
Barbara Broccoli said: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time To Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios, which distributes Bond, for $8.45bn (£6.79bn).
Since the acquisition, the streamer has held the rights to distribute all the Bond movies.
Cox as The Controller in 007’s Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video
In the spring of 2023, Amazon Prime Video launched Bond-themed reality show, 007 Road To A Million.
Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, it offered nine pairs of contestants the chance to win £1m as they travelled through global locations associated with the franchise.
While no one took home the full £1m jackpot, brothers James and Joey did take £150,000. The show was met with a mixed critical reception but was given the green light for a second season.
Manslaughter charges over the death of Liam Payne have been dropped for his friend Roger Nores and two hotel workers.
Rogelio “Roger” Nores, hotel operator Gilda Martin, and head of reception Esteban Grassi were charged in December, two months after the One Direction star’s death at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
At the same time, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz were charged with supplying cocaine to Payne.
Payne (second left) rose to fame in One Direction. Pic: Ken McKay/Shutterstock
Following an appeal, the manslaughter charges against Nores, Martin and Grassi have now been dropped, court documents show.
The charges against Pereyra and Paiz still stand and they remain in prison awaiting a trial.
Speaking after the ruling, Nores told Rolling Stone: “Glad this is finally over. I’m happy I’m now going to be able to travel to the UK and say goodbye to my friend.”
Nores, Martin and Grassi would have faced up to five years in prison had they been convicted.
Supplying drugs in Argentina carries a sentence of up to 15 years.
The latest court document states that Payne fell from the balcony of his room on the third floor of the hotel at about 5.10pm on 16 October.
In the hours beforehand, the singer had been involved in an argument with two women in the hotel lobby, the court document states, and cleaning staff later reported the television in his hotel room was broken.
Toxicology tests revealed that before his death, he had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his body.
His cause of death was “polytrauma” from multiple injuries and internal and external bleeding, a postmortem found.
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