Trending Now: Bible in hand, Russell Brand pleads not guilty to new sexual assault charges – Fans React

Because when a celebrity man stands in court and says “not guilty”, that is not just a headline. That is a moment. And in 2026, moments like this land differently.

Russell Brand, once the chaotic, eyeliner-wearing poster boy of British comedy, has formally denied a new case of rape and sexual assault charges in a London court.

These new allegations add to five earlier charges he denied in 2025: two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault linked to alleged incidents involving four women between 1999 and 2005.

He arrived at Southwark Crown Court in a black Mercedes-Benz wearing sunglasses, a white wide-brimmed hat, a tiger-print shirt open to the waist, pinstripe trousers, a large grey overcoat and layered necklaces, including a cross.

The former comedian, who said he found religion in early 2024, carried a Bible with several bookmarks protruding from the top.

Asked how he felt outside court, he told reporters: “Blessed.”

Inside the courtroom, Brand attempted to read from the Bible while waiting for proceedings to begin, before a court officer removed it. When his case was called, he took off his hat, held it to his chest, confirmed his name and entered his not guilty pleas.

Brand has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that his past relationships were consensual. The case will proceed through the British legal system, with further hearings expected ahead of trial.

We are no longer in the era where celebrity scandal exists in a vacuum. The release of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein shifted the global conversation about power, access and alleged abuse.

The ongoing legal turmoil surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs has once again forced the entertainment industry to confront uncomfortable questions about influence and accountability.

Against that backdrop, any high-profile sexual offence case carries heightened scrutiny. Not because of the spectacle but because of what it represents.

After years of chaotic fame, he reinvented himself around 2024, embracing Christianity and publicly leaning into spirituality, sobriety, and moral reflection.

He often portrays himself as a reformed, thoughtful figure, carrying Bibles, quoting scripture, and framing his life as one of redemption and accountability.

Brand now faces a total of seven charges, five earlier ones and two additional allegations from 2009, all of which he has pleaded not guilty to in London’s Southwark Crown Court.

A trial is expected in June, during which prosecutors will present their case to a jury that will decide the facts.

A conviction could carry significant prison sentences given the gravity of the charges, while an acquittal would legally clear him; either way, the case underscores the legal system’s role in examining allegations against high‑profile figures and will be closely watched internationally.