Russell Brand has said his “promiscuous” behaviour was considered normal in a “diabolical culture” after being charged with rape and sexual assault.

The comedian and actor insisted he was innocent of the allegations, but had nevertheless been “captured by a kind of darkness” in a society that celebrated the “relentless pursuit of pleasure”.

Brand, 50, was charged on Friday with two counts of sexual assault, one count of indecent assault, one count of rape and one count of oral rape over a six-year period.

“In those giddy and hedonistic days, those ludicrous, dark days… I must have been captured by a kind of darkness,” he said in a two-minute clip posted on his social media accounts.

“But remember, for 22-and-a-half years, I’ve been drug and alcohol free, and I have a pretty good memory of accounts.

“I also know that I am a person that very much respects the idea of consent. Also I do respect the rights of the complainants to total anonymity and total privacy.

“I have complete respect for the system of justice and will be fully cooperative, knowing in my heart I’m completely innocent of these allegations.”