{
  "id": 16844732,
  "title": "Russell Brand told police he never had non-consensual sex",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/russell-brand-told-police-he-never-had-non-consensual-sex",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T03:33:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/russell-brand-told-police-he-never-had-non-consensual-sex/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Russell Brand has informed police that he has never been involved in any non-consensual sexual activity, according to a court hearing. The comedian and media personality, who is currently on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, has been dealing with allegations of rape and sexual assault for the past few years. Brand has provided a prepared statement during each police interview, maintaining that he has led a \"very promiscuous\" life in the past and has openly denounced such behavior.\n\nThe allegations against him originated from a defamatory and fictitious documentary, according to Brand. He further stated that the media and police invited additional allegations, leading to the invention or reimagining of further encounters. Mr. Justice Bennathan, the judge presiding over the trial, dismissed a charge of indecent assault, citing insufficient evidence. The charge related to an incident in 2001 where a woman claimed that Brand had grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a toilet at MTV.\n\nBrand is presently facing three counts of rape, three charges of sexual assault, and one of attempted indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution is expected to conclude on Wednesday before the defense begins. Brand's wife, Laura, attended the court hearing with him on Tuesday.",
  "summary": "Russell Brand told police in interviews in response to allegations of rape and sexual assault that he had been \"very promiscuous\" in the past, but had never engaged in \"non-consensual sexual activity\", a court has heard.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}