Russell Brand Christianity: Bear Grylls Weighs in on Comedian’s Conversion

Television host Bear Grylls weighed in on Saturday about actor and comedian Russell Brand’s recent conversion to Christianity.

Newsweek has reached out to Brand via email for comment on Sunday morning.

Why It Matters

This comes after Brand has been at the center of controversy in recent years after he was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse over a seven-year period by at least four women in September 2023. The accusations came from a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and The Times and TV show Dispatches. Brand has since denied the allegations as “egregious” and claimed the “mainstream media” had started a “coordinated” witch hunt against him.

What To Know

In an interview with The Telegraph published on Saturday, Grylls, a British adventurer and writer, defended Brand’s recent conversion to Christianity, in which Brand revealed in April that he had been baptized as a Christian in the River Thames.

“First of all, I didn’t baptize. I never judge and he was a friend through [appearing on] Running Wild [Grylls’ reality show], and he’s had a real journey in his life. You know what, whoever it is, you can’t only stand beside people who have had perfect journeys. It was for him a real moment of humility and repentance and genuine heart-felt finding of quite a faith in his life,” Grylls said.

He added that he believes Brand’s embrace of Christianity is genuine, “People say to me, ‘What about the victims?’ if they’re victims. And I go, ‘Of course I stand beside everybody. We are called to love everybody and not to judge anyone.'”

Grylls, a prominent Christian who has appeared in marketing material for the Alpha course, an evangelical introduction to Christianity, has a longstanding friendship with Brand and assisted in the baptism ceremony.

Investigation Into Russell Brand’s Sexual Assault Allegations

Last November, detectives handed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service. It came after the investigation revealed four women alleged the sexual assaults occurred between 2006 and 2013 while Brand was a presenter for BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4 as well as when he was an actor in Hollywood.

According to The Sunday Times, the investigations have been developing over the past few years with reporters interviewing hundreds of sources who knew or worked with Brand such as ex-girlfriends and their friends and family, comedians, celebrities, people who worked with him in radio and TV, and senior staff at the BBC, Channel 4 and other media organizations.

Who Is Russell Brand?

Brand, 49, who was born in England is most known for his work as an actor and comedian. His first turning point in his career came in mid-2000s, when he hosted Big Brother’s Big Mouth. He then quickly moved on to be a presenter and actor in Hollywood.

Brand, who has been open about his use of illegal drugs and addiction to sex, has also written an autobiography

In addition, over the years, Brand has developed a cult following for his views on politics and society, and more recently has dabbled in the world of conspiracy theories in videos posted on YouTube and Rumble.

Brand has emerged as a staunch President-elect Donald Trump supporter in the months leading up to November’s election.

Who Is Russell Brand’s Wife?

While Brand is often associated with his ex-wife and pop star Katy Perry, the comedian has been married to Laura Brand since 2017. Russell and Laura share three children together. Laura comes from a relatively famous family. Her father is the Scottish golfer Bernard Gallacher, who was a Ryder Cup captain for multiple European teams.

Is Russell Brand Catholic?

In May, Brand, who was previously a Buddhist, posted an Instagram picture of his baptism ceremony, which took place near his home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The image was captioned: ‘Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit.’ In the Instagram announcement, Brand also noted that his wife is Catholic.

However, it remains unclear into which church he has been received, but Brand has since considered himself as someone who is embracing Christianity.

Russell Brand’s Net Worth

According to the New York Post, citing the Mirror, in 2023 Brand’s net worth was reported to be $20 million.

What People Are Saying

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement in November that did not mention Brand by name, “Following an investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatches and the Sunday Times in September 2023, the Met received a number of reports of sexual offences from women in London and elsewhere in the country. A file of evidence has now been passed to the CPS for their consideration. As part of the investigation, a man in his 40s has been interviewed by officers under caution on three separate occasions.”

Public relations expert Molly McPherson previously told Newsweek regarding the sexual assault allegations against Brand, “Russell Brand’s approach is noticeably calculated because he is not just denying the allegations but is also diverting the conversation by framing it as a media attack. It creates a smokescreen, allowing him to mobilize his large and vocal fan base as a counteroffensive tactic.”

What Happens Next

The investigation into Brand’s alleged sexual assaults continues.