Russell Brand takes the stand at his rape and sexual assault trial

Key Points:

• Actor and comedian Russell Brand is on trial in London facing multiple charges including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one charge of attempted indecent assault, all alleged by six women over a decade from 1999 to 2009; Brand denies all charges.
• On the stand, Brand repeatedly denied the allegations, emphasizing his belief that consent is "absolutely non-negotiable" and "more important than sex itself," while recalling some encounters but asserting they were consensual.
• Specific allegations include a 1999 incident at a Labour Party conference, a 2001 encounter at MTV offices, a 2004 alleged assault in a London bar, and a 2009 alleged anal rape following a threesome backstage at the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, which Brand acknowledged but maintained was consensual.
• Brand denied recalling certain text exchanges with one accuser but suggested any apology would have been for expressed dissatisfaction rather than wrongdoing, and he attributed the charges to a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, claiming media bias and a coordinated attack linked to his online prominence.
• The women came forward following the documentary's release, with some citing Brand's increased public profile as a factor in their decision to share their stories, while Brand continues to assert his innocence and challenges the credibility of the allegations.