Russell Brand was questioned by Met Police detectives this week over allegations of historical sexual offenses.
Scotland Yard said a man in his 40s, believed to be Brand, was being questioned at a police station in south London on Thursday about three “non-recent” sexual offenses.
Fire, 48, was questioned under caution by Met police officers and police will continue to investigate, the Sunday Times first reported.
The Met had urged potential victims to come forward after the maverick comedian faced allegations of sexual assault and rape by four women, revealed in an investigation by the same newspaper and the Channel 4 Dispatches program.
In September, Scotland Yard announced it was investigating several allegations of sexual offenses after alleged victims from London and other parts of the UK contacted police.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed to Web today: “A man in his 40s attended a police station in south London on Thursday 16 November 2023. He was questioned by investigators under caution in connection with three non-recent sexual offenses. “The investigation is ongoing.”
Brand (pictured in LA, 2019), 48, was questioned by Met Police detectives this week over allegations of historical sexual offenses
Scotland Yard said a man in his 40s, believed to be Brand, was being questioned at a police station in south London on Thursday about three “non-recent” sexual offenses
On Wednesday, 24 hours before Brand was questioned by police, the BBC said two further complaints “not of a serious sexual nature” had been made against the comedian and the actor after the broadcaster launched a review of his conduct.
This was in addition to three other complaints made to the BBC before he was accused of rape and sexual assault.
Brand has denied allegations of rape and sexual assault, claiming his relationships have “always been consensual.”
It is understood the allegations the Met Brand is questioning about are different to those made by four women in September.
The comedian was accused of abusive and predatory behavior including a rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013 at the height of his fame.
Among the first allegations was a woman who claimed Brand raped her without a condom against the wall of his Los Angeles home in 2013. She was treated for rape that same day, according to medical records seen by The Times.
Another woman claimed he sexually abused her when she was 16 and still at school in the UK.
A third claimed Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked with him in LA. She claimed she repeatedly told him to get away from her and when he finally did, he “rolled over”.
The fourth claimed she was sexually assaulted by Brand in the UK and accused him of physically and emotionally abusing her.
It is understood the allegations the Met Brand is questioning about are different to those made by four women in September. Pictured: Brand leaving the Troubabour Wembley Park theater in north west London after performing a comedy in September
Brand has denied allegations of rape and sexual assault, claiming his relationships were “absolutely and always consensual.”
A series of further allegations then emerged as the weeks went on, including a woman who contacted the Met claiming she had been sexually assaulted in Soho, London, in 2003.
Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation, later said: “We continue to encourage anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual offense, no matter how long ago, to contact us.”
He added: “We understand that it may feel like a difficult step and I would like to reassure that we have a team of professionals available to advise and support us.”
Officers from a police unit set up in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal worked with Scotland Yard on the “uncurrent” allegations against Brand.
Earlier this month, Brand was accused in a lawsuit filed in New York of sexually assaulting an actress on the set of “Arthur” in 2010 – while he was engaged to Katy Perry. This was the first such allegation made in court.
He was pictured last week for the first time since he was publicly accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women.
He was seen driving his £90,000 Land Rover Defender to the pub he owns in Oxfordshire on Thursday to speak to staff about ongoing renovations at the property.
Last month it was revealed that Brand was forced to dismantle the fence around his village pub the day after he was accused of abusive and predatory behavior after erecting it in breach of planning regulations.
Brand’s appearance came just days before the BBC announced that a total of five complaints had been lodged against the comedian.
Spotted: Russell Brand was seen last week for the first time since multiple women accused him of sexual assault and rape
The BBC also said two further complaints have been made since the broadcaster launched a review into the behavior of Russell Brand (pictured).
Earlier this month, Brand was accused of sexually assaulting an actress on the set of Arthur in 2010 (pictured filming Arthur in New York in 2010).
One of the first three complaints relates to an allegation of misconduct first reported in 2019 in relation to an incident that occurred on BBC premises in Los Angeles in 2008.
The last two complaints were filed between 2006 and 2008, when Brand was employed by the company as a radio host, and were filed again after his departure.
In the run-up to the first allegations against Brand, he vehemently rejected “very serious criminal allegations”.
In a video he said: “During this time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely always consensual.” I was always transparent then, almost too transparent, and I am now too.
“Seeing this transparency turn into something criminal that I absolutely deny makes me wonder: Is there another agenda behind this?”
Brand said the “very serious allegations” came amid a “litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks.”
Web has contacted Russell Brand representatives for comment.