Russell Brand arrives at a London court to face rape and sexual assault charges
Associated Press1 day
Russell Brand Granted Bail in Sexual Assault Case
Above: Russell Brand arrives at Westminster Magistrates' Court on May 2, 2025, in London, England. Image copyright: Karwai Tang/Contributor/WireImage via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault allegations are horrifying yet unsurprising given his history of manipulative behavior. From exploiting his "bad boy" image to silencing staff at the BBC, his charisma has long masked predatory tendencies. Even right-leaning defenders, drawn to his conspiracy rhetoric, should beware: Brand's fraudulent pivot to faith and far-Right alliances reveals a cynical opportunist, not a redeemed figure.
Narrative B
While this case has only just begun, there are many reasons to question the origins of these accusations. It's suspicious that they first emerged just as Brand became popular for converting to Christianity and criticizing the billionaire-run news industry — the same newspapers now running hit pieces to smear his name before he's even gone to court. As was the case when the media attempted to smear Rogan during COVID, no conclusions should be drawn until the truth is laid out in full.