Woman alleges rape by Russell Brand aged 16

Mia Latter, now 37, has publicly stated she was raped by comedian Russell Brand when she was 16 years old. Ms Latter, who was a schoolgirl at the time of the alleged incident while Brand was 30, has waived her right to anonymity to advocate for legal reform. The allegation has been reported to the Metropolitan Police, and their investigation into the matter is continuing.

Ms Latter first met Brand in Leicester Square, central London. She told The Sunday Times that Brand, who was working for MTV at the time, took her number and later messaged her to ask her out. Despite her confessing her age, Brand continued to pursue a relationship, asking her to keep it secret from her friends. Ms Latter alleges that Brand referred to her as "the child" in front of his associates.

The alleged oral rape occurred towards the end of their three-month relationship. Ms Latter spoke to the police after a documentary about Brand. However, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to include her case in Brand's trial at Southwark Crown Court. Ms Latter stated she was informed that her case would not proceed to the October trial, with the reason given that they did not want it to become "the Alice show", referring to her pseudonym in previous reports.

Brand previously addressed the age of consent in the UK during an interview with Megyn Kelly, stating it is 16 and admitting he slept with a 16-year-old when he was 30. He described himself as an "immature 30-year-old" and acknowledged that consensual sex with a significant power imbalance, such as fame, "involves exploitation". Ms Latter questioned her own maturity level at 16 compared to Brand's established career and influence.

Ms Latter expressed happiness that justice was secured for some of the women involved in Brand's case, acknowledging the police's extensive work. However, she described the process as "criminalising" and decided to withdraw from the criminal proceedings to concentrate on her campaign. She stated that dedicating more years to the legal process would take a significant toll on her personal life and family.

Her campaign focuses on introducing a staggered age of consent, which would make sexual relationships between adults and 16 or 17-year-olds illegal. Ms Latter finds it concerning that discussions about Brand often return to his relationships with 16-year-olds, arguing that adults should not be permitted to have sexual relationships with individuals under 18. Russell Brand is currently serving a 10-and-a-half-year prison sentence after being convicted of one count of rape and three sexual assaults against four women.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that an investigation was launched in January 2026 following an allegation of rape. Detectives consulted the CPS for guidance on how to proceed and were advised that further information was required before a charging decision could be made. The force stated that the investigation remains ongoing and acknowledged the delay has been distressing for the victim-survivor, emphasising their focus on presenting the strongest possible evidence.