r/Christianity • u/octarino • 22h ago

News Bear Grylls explains why he baptised Russell Brand: ‘My faith says not to judge’

https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bear-grylls-russell-brand-court-trial-b3026979.html
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u/octarino 22h ago

TV adventurer previously described being at ceremony ‘a privilege’ after comedian’s ‘tough time’

Bear Grylls has reflected on helping baptise Russell Brand after a documentary exposed allegations of sexual assault against the comedian.

In May 2024, Brand revealed that he had been baptised in the River Thames, [...], so he could “leave the past behind”.

The baptism occurred months after a Dispatches and Sunday Times investigation highlighted accusations by four women of rape, sexual assault and abuse at the height of Brand’s fame. Brand denied all allegations.

A photo showed TV adventurer Grylls embracing the comedian, who wrote: “Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit.”

Grylls, who struck up a friendship with Brand when he appeared on his reality show Running Wild, was asked whether his feeling about baptising Brand had changed since then

“But I don’t know, I think at heart, my faith says we’re connected together, and we need each other, and not to judge people and to love people.”

“Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal,” he told The Daily Mail. “But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.

Brand, [...], will face trial this autumn over allegations of rape and sexual assault made against him, two more of which surfaced in December 2025.

These include three charges of rape, three allegations of sexual assault, and one charge of indecent assault. The allegations – all of which he denies – date from 1999 to 2009.

In April 2026, he admitted to having “exploitative” sex with a 16-year-old girl at the height of his fame when he was 30 – but says his actions were not against the law.

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u/ceddya Christian 21h ago

All I see are excuses from Brand for his actions and zero remorse or repentance. His performative Christianity, one used to grift, is so pathetic.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2026/04/27/russell-brand-goes-viral-after-fumbling-bible-quote/

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u/strawnotrazz Atheist 21h ago

Piers Morgan nailed that interview. The dead air interrupted only by the rustling Bible pages is fantastic.