Russell Brand Makes First Court Appearance in Criminal Rape Case, While Tucker Carlson Asks Trump to “Rescue” Him

A month after he was once charged with 5 felony counts together with rape, indecent attack, oral rape, and sexual attack, Russell Brand made his first look in UK court docket Friday. The British comic/actor became conspiracy-focused social media famous person was once launched on conditional bail on the finish of the lawsuits, and was once prompt to go back to court docket on the finish of the month. The similar day, right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson tweeted reinforce for Brand, and begged president Donald Trump to interfere at the alleged rapist’s behalf.

Claims of misconduct and abuse in opposition to the 49-year-old famous person of flicks equivalent to Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Rock of Ages took heart degree in September, 2023, when UK information retailers The Times and The Sunday Times, in addition to Channel 4 newsmagazine collection Dispatches, launched a sweeping joint investigation detailing an alleged trend of sexual attack and coercion. Four girls who spoke to the retailers accused Brand of sexual attack in incidents between 2006 and 2013, whilst an important choice of others made claims of harassment, predatory conduct, and abuse.

The day sooner than the record was once launched, Brand took to social media in an obvious effort to disclaim the upcoming allegations, announcing then that “mainstream media” operations with a “serious and concerted agenda” would quickly free up a tale about him that had “metastasized into something criminal.”

“I don’t mind them using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous consensual conduct in the past,” Brand said in a September 15, 2023 post to X (formerly Twitter). “What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations.”

His denial received reinforce from enthusiasts together with X proprietor and alleged deadbeat dad Elon Musk, who answered—it appears in connection with the mainstream press—”Of path. They don’t like festival.”

Brand has in large part instructed transparent of detailed remark at the claims, telling a cheering crowd at a standup display days after the record dropped that “I love you. I love you. Thank you. There’s some things I cannot talk about, and hopefully, you appreciate that I’m gonna give you everything I’ve got.” The remarks got here the similar day he was once dropped by way of control corporate Tavistock Wood Management, which mentioned in a observation that it have been acutely aware of a minimum of one of the crucial allegations in opposition to Brand since 2020, however Brand had “categorically and vehemently denied” it.

“We now believe we were horribly misled by him,” the observation persisted. “TW has terminated all professional ties to Brand.”

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police launched a year-long criminal investigation into the allegations against Brand, which was passed on to prosecutors last November. The agency had received “a number of allegations of sexual offenses in London” and outlying spaces, it mentioned in a observation. After interviewing the suspect “under caution on three separate occasions,” officials handed the record of proof to the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), with a advice that fees be filed.

The CPS adopted go well with remaining month, charging Brand for alleged incidents involving 4 other girls that happened between 1999 and 2005. In a next publish to social media, Brand once more denied the claims, announcing he was once “incredibly grateful” for the “alternative to protect those fees in court docket.”

In Friday’s hearing at Westminster Magistrate’s Court in London, Brand—clad in an unbuttoned shirt, jeans, and boots—remained largely silent after confirming his name, date of birth, and address. After Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ordered Brand to inform the court of his travel plans and current location, Brand was granted bail. “Thank you,” Brand said, then left the courtroom, hopping into a black Mercedes waiting outside. He is expected to return to court on May 30.

That locational request is particularly important given Brand’s fresh social media remarks. Via conservative platform Rumble, Brand mentioned in February that “I don’t live in the United Kingdom any more because I personally have experienced how the media, government and judiciary — if you suddenly become an inconvenience — will find ways to attack and shut you down.” He reportedly moved to a rental property in Florida’s Santa Rosa Beach, where he’s been spotted at yoga classes and at a local church.

Brand’s move to the US has seemingly spurred right wing broadcaster Tucker Carlson to spring to his defense. The fired Fox News broadcaster tweeted Friday that after Brand “criticized the government for using Covid to turn the UK into a totalitarian state,” Brand changed into the point of interest of “transparently political and absurd” claims, and “has no shot at a fair trial, because Britain is no longer a free country.”

“Over the last few years, millions of foreigners have applied for asylum in the United States,” Carlson persisted, however “Russell Brand actually deserves it. Say a prayer that the Trump administration comes to his rescue.”