Russell Brand is facing a fresh wave of sexual misconduct allegations, with six more women coming forward after the disgraced comedian was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.
The new allegations, reported by The Times, include claims that Brand had sex with women without their consent, continued sexual activity after being told to stop, groped women and tried to pressure one woman into a hotel bathroom.
The accounts span roughly a decade, from 2005 to 2015. Several of the women said they first encountered Brand at his comedy shows, where he allegedly used his celebrity status to approach women in the audience, invite them backstage or to his hotel, and obtain their phone numbers.
Some said they had previously felt unable to report what happened. They decided to speak publicly after other women came forward with allegations against him.
One woman, identified by The Times as Alex, said she began dating Brand in the late 2000s. She alleged that during one sexual encounter, he attempted to have sex without a condom despite her telling him to stop.
Alex described trying to move away while repeatedly telling him she did not consent. She said Brand continued, leaving her feeling powerless.
According to her account, Brand later apologized both in person and through text messages. She also described his behavior during their on-and-off relationship as increasingly controlling.
Another woman, identified as Vicky, said she met Brand at one of his comedy gigs in 2007, when she was 19. They had consensual sex twice, she said. But during a third encounter, she alleged that Brand continued having sex with her after she told him it was painful and repeatedly asked him to stop.
“I say, ‘It’s painful’ and he doesn’t stop,” she told the newspaper. “And then it gets worse and it’s really painful. And I say ‘stop’ and he doesn’t stop.”
Other women describe unwanted touching and intimidation.
A woman identified as Zoe alleged that Brand groped her breasts and buttocks after one of his San Francisco performances in 2013. She said he later invited her to his hotel room, where he allegedly penetrated her with his finger without her consent.
Another woman, Georgia, said Brand approached her in 2005 and used flattering messages to persuade her to meet him after a performance in London. She alleged that he offered her money for sex and told her he might kill himself if she did not go home with him.
“He’s like a vampire, trying to take something from women,” she said.
A fifth woman, Rosie, said she met Brand in 2006, when she was in her late 20s. After they had sex, she alleged, he asked her to lick a toilet seat.
The sixth woman, identified as Louise, said Brand approached her in 2015 at the London venue where she worked. She alleged that he tried to lure her into a disabled restroom before grabbing her forcefully in the dark.
Fearing she was about to be sexually assaulted, she managed to get away.
“I felt like a piece of meat,” she said.
Brand has previously denied wrongdoing and maintained that his sexual relationships were consensual.
The latest allegations come just days after a jury found him guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others in incidents between 2004 and 2009. He was sentenced on Monday to 10 years and six months in prison. He was also acquitted of two additional rape charges and one charge of attempted indecent assault.
And the new accounts are not the only developments. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that several people had contacted investigators during and after the trial, either providing additional information or reporting potential criminal offenses. Detectives are assessing that information.
Following Brand’s conviction, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he would not be surprised if more women came forward.
Now, six more women have added their accounts to the growing number of allegations surrounding the former comedian. Those claims have not been adjudicated in court, but they raise further questions about the conduct described by women who say they encountered Brand during the height of his fame.
