On November 5, 2026, actor and comedian Russell Brand was found guilty of serious crimes from two decades ago. The controversy began in September 2023 when a joint investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s Dispatches accused him of preying on four women dating back to 1999. Brand faced five criminal charges in April 2025, with additional charges related to two more women added in December. He denied all allegations, and some people online defended him, claiming the accusations were false.
The investigation published on September 16, 2023, included allegations of rape, sexual assault, and emotional abuse against Brand, with one woman stating that he violated her when she was 16. On the same day, Brand released a video on social media, where he mentioned that he had been “very, very promiscuous” but insisted that all his relationships were consensual.
After the video was released, Elon Musk expressed his support for Brand, stating that he believed Brand was not evil. Musk suggested that the allegations were part of a coordinated media attack for an unspecified agenda and questioned why these claims surfaced when Brand was gaining popularity. He noted that if the concern was truly about sexual predation in the entertainment industry, many others should also be investigated.
When the Metropolitan Police began their investigation shortly after the allegations emerged, Musk reiterated his defense of Brand in a conversation with Ben Shapiro. He stated that he would not believe any claims until there was a conviction and emphasized that it was wrong to ruin lives based on potential false accusations. Musk also suggested that Brand might be facing these accusations because he challenged powerful figures and questioned mainstream beliefs.
As of now, Musk has not issued any new statements about Brand following his conviction. A judge denied Brand bail as he awaits sentencing after the guilty verdict. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service officially charged Brand on April 4, 2025.
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Source: Bored Panda, by Analice Couto