Russell Brand told police of 'promiscuous past' amid rape trial

Russell Brand told police his "very promiscuous" past has been "unfavourably reframed" into allegations of rape and sexual assault, his trial has heard. The 51-year-old comedian, who denies all charges against him, stated that consensual sexual encounters have been reframed decades later. He is accused of seven offences against six women, with allegations spanning 10 years from 1999.

Statements made by Brand to police were read to the jury at Southwark crown court in London. The jury was informed that Brand was interviewed four times between November 2023 and July 2025. In these interviews, Brand insisted he had "never engaged in any non-consensual sexual activity".

Celebrity Lifestyle and Reframed Encounters

Brand described an intense celebrity lifestyle that included kissing hundreds of fans in public and having sex in toilets, according to statements read to the court. He told officers, "I led a very promiscuous life in the past, which I have spent years openly denouncing." He also stated that consensual encounters had been "unfavourably reframed decades later".

He attributed the allegations to "defamatory and fictitious" media reports. Brand claimed that following media reports in September 2023, "both the media and the police publicly invited additional allegations to be made, which resulted in further encounters being invented or reimagined." He added that he did not recall some of the women who had come forward, but it was "entirely possible" they had met and engaged in consensual activity that had since been "reimagined".

Denial of Non-Consensual Activity

Addressing specific allegations, Brand stated, "At no point would I have touched [her] breasts unless it was consensual." He confirmed having "consensual sex in toilet cubicles during parties" but denied ever forcing anyone into a toilet or forcing his penis into anyone's mouth. He maintained, "I have never engaged in any non-consensual sexual activity."

Brand is accused of three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. An allegation of indecent assault was changed to a charge of attempted indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial continues.