Russell Edward Brand (born June 4, 1975) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, and media personality. He gained initial fame as the host of "Big Brother's Big Mouth" in the UK. Brand achieved wider recognition for his stand-up comedy, radio and television presenting, and later, his roles in Hollywood films such as "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" (2008) and "Get Him to the Greek" (2010). He is also known for his voice work in the "Despicable Me" franchise. Brand has released several stand-up specials, including "Scandalous" (2009), "Messiah Complex" (2013), and "Brandemic" (2023). He also hosts the podcasts "Stay Free with Russell Brand" and "Under the Skin with Russell Brand".
In recent years, Brand has transitioned to online cultural and political commentary, building a large following with videos mixing wellness and conspiracy theories. However, his career has been significantly impacted by numerous allegations of sexual assault and rape. Since September 2023, multiple women have publicly accused Brand of sexual assault and abuse, with alleged incidents occurring between 1999 and 2013. Brand has denied these allegations, but is facing legal charges. As of December 2025, he has been charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault and is scheduled to appear in court in January 2026, with a trial set for June 2026. Due to the allegations, YouTube has suspended monetization of his channel, and the BBC has removed some of his content.