British police investigate rape, sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Police in London announced Monday that they are investigating comedian and actor Russell Brand, following allegations of sexual offenses in the United Kingdom.

Brand, 48, has been accused of raping and sexual assaulting a number of women during the height of his career, between 2006 and 2013, according to an investigation by several 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," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement 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," the police force added.

Among the allegations, Brand is accused of raping a women with whom he'd previously had consensual relations. He is also accused of "grooming" a 16-year-old girl.

Brand has publicly denied the allegations. On Friday, he posted a three-minute video clip, calling the claims "extraordinary and distressing," as he 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 cut off Brand's revenue from ads displayed on his channel in response to the rape and assault allegations. Large companies, including Burger King, Asos, the Barbican and HelloFresh, have also removed their ads from Rumble.

Brand was married to pop star Katy Perry for a little more than a year, from 2010 to 2011. Perry, who is 10 years younger, told Vogue in 2013 that Brand "was really hurtful, and it (relationship) was very controlling."

As Brand calls the rape and assault allegations a "coordinated attack" for his conspiracy theories and COVID denialism, police are asking the public for 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," Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy said.

"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."