Brand to headline New York conference ahead of UK trial

Russell Brand is set to appear at a private conference on New York's Shelter Island this week as the comedian faces seven sexual offence charges involving six women in the UK.

Brand, 51, has been announced as a featured speaker at the Shelter Island Conference, part of the United We Stand tour organised by the Free and Equal Elections Foundation, at the historic Ram's Head Inn from August 26 to 28.

Promotional material bills the former Hollywood actor and broadcaster as an "author, broadcaster and independent voice" taking part in discussions about capital, sovereignty and self-governance.

The gathering takes inspiration from the scientific conference held on Shelter Island in 1947 and describes this year's meeting as an opportunity for "open discourse".

He has pleaded not guilty to seven charges - three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault - relating to six women and alleged incidents between 1999 and 2009.

Brand was initially charged in April 2025 following a Metropolitan Police investigation that began after allegations were reported by the Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4's Dispatches in 2023.

The original case involved two counts of rape, one count of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault relating to four women and alleged offences between 1999 and 2005.

Two further charges - one count of rape and one count of sexual assault - were authorised by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service last December and relate to two additional women and alleged incidents in 2009.

Brand subsequently pleaded not guilty to those charges at Southwark Crown Court in February.

A trial has been scheduled to start on October 12 to hear the original charges.