Comedian and actor Russell Brand has cancelled his popular show on Rumble today (April 4) amid a wave of charges, which include rape and sexual assault. The 49-year-old comedian and actor announced the move during an social media clip, where he broke his silence on the charges, and told fans the daily show will return next week on Monday (April 7).

“I want to thank all of you for your continuing support. I want to let you know that our show will be on rumble on Monday. Thanks for your support there,” he said, before adding: “and of course, I'm now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court and I'm incredibly grateful for that.” In the wake of the claims of rape and sexual assault – which Brand denies – YouTube suspended his ability to earn money on the platform, sparking Brand’s move to Rumble.

The content promises to offer “an alternative news source that is both inclusive and progressive, exploring global events and providing unique perspectives on culture, news, and politics. We are here to serve our community—which includes everyone,” said Russell Brand. “We are here to question everything, we are here to have a laugh, to Build Back Better and Make News Great Again. Stay Free.”

The show typically airs daily at 5pm. Rumble famously hit back at concerns raised by British lawmakers about Russell Brand's ability to make money on its site after the comedian and actor was first accused of a string of sexual assaults back in 2023. At the time, Brand used the Canadian-based platform, where he has 2.08 million followers, to deny the allegations, saying he had never had non-consensual sex.

Lawmaker Caroline Dinenage, chair of parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee, asked Rumble's Chief Executive Chris Pavlovski in a letter if Brand was able to monetise his content on the site, including his videos relating to the accusations.

"If so, we would like to know whether Rumble intends to join YouTube in suspending Mr Brand's ability to earn money on the platform?" she said. Pavlovski called the letter "extremely disturbing", and said it was "deeply inappropriate and dangerous that the UK parliament would attempt to control who is allowed to speak on our platform or to earn a living from doing so".

The Forgetting Sarah Marshall star has been charged with rape, indecent assault and sexual assault by London’s Metropolitan Police, all of which he denies. The police said Friday (April 4) that Brand has been charged with one count of rape, one count of indecent assault, one count of oral rape and two counts of sexual assault after detectives started investigating 18 months ago.

Brand went on to thanks fans for their "incredible and overwhelming messages of support," in his statement, and blasted: "the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people, institutions, and sometimes entire nations that will not accept and tolerate levels of corruption are unprecedented."