Russell Brand is in hot water again as he has reportedly been charged by UK police for alleged driving offenses.
According to reports from The Standard, Brand, 49, is faced with two charges of alleged speeding, along with two counts of failure to disclose whether he or someone else was behind the wheel of a vehicle registered to the controversial comedian. Per the British newspaper, Brand has hired the law firm of Nick “Mr. Loophole” Freeman to represent him in the magistrates’ court hearings regarding the traffic offenses.
Us Weekly has reached out to Freeman for comment.
Additionally, the Standard reported that Brand’s case was initially being dealt with by the single justice procedure, which in the UK sees magistrates decide on a case in private without going to court. However, it now appears that Brand’s case will be going to an open court hearing.
Brand’s alleged driving offenses are separate from another lawsuit filed against the actor in November 2023, wherein an anonymous woman alleged that Brand had sexually assaulted her while on the set of 2011’s Arthur.
The lawsuit named Warner Bros. and other companies involved in the production as defendants and accused them of “negligence” and “aiding and abetting Brand by tolerating his misconduct on the set.”
In February 2024, Brand responded to these allegations by saying he did not recognize the woman’s name or photo and does not recall ever interacting with her. His lawyers said the lawsuit was “premised on the false claim” that Brand was intoxicated at the time of the alleged assault.
The comedian claimed he had been eight years sober while filming Arthur, with his legal team saying, “While Brand’s job was to act drunk and portray a drunk in the film, he did not drink a sip of alcohol or consume any drugs at any time during production.”
The woman, identified as “Jane Doe,” said in a 2023 interview with the Sunday Times, “I felt used and abused. Disgusting is the only word. I felt like I was being used, that I was just an object for his momentary titillation.”
She shared, “Everyone usually turns a blind eye to bad behavior on a set. If I had come forward and said something to, say, even a production assistant on the set, what are they going to do? Are they going to fire Russell Brand, or are they going to fire me?”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
