Bear Grylls has broken his silence on Russell Brand’s rape conviction after helping baptize the disgraced comedian last year.
The adventurer and TV host, 51, addressed the verdict in a post on X on Friday, two days after Brand, 49, was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at London’s Southwark Crown Court. Brand was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. He was taken into custody following Thursday’s ruling and is due to be sentenced on Monday.
Grylls, best known for “Man vs. Wild,” had been present at Brand’s private baptism in the River Thames in 2024, a moment that drew widespread attention given the timing. The ceremony came less than a year after explosive allegations against Brand were first published by the Sunday Times and aired in Channel 4’s “Dispatches” docuseries.
“Brand’s faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism,” Grylls wrote on X. “I have attended a few now.”
The two men had first crossed paths professionally when Brand appeared as a guest on Grylls’ show “Running Wild” in 2023, months before the documentary exposed the initial allegations. After those claims emerged, Brand publicly converted to Christianity and began speaking extensively about his religion across his social media channels.
Grylls contextualized his presence at the baptism within his broader spiritual practice. He wrote: “It’s part of our calling as men and women of faith, to love and serve anyone. It is the sick that need healing. Judgement is for the courts and God… I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.”
He added that he has visited prisoners who have committed terrible crimes, framing such outreach as consistent with his beliefs.
The TV personality then turned directly to the verdict itself, praising those who came forward. “It is right that justice has now been served,” he wrote. “I can’t imagine how hard this time has been for the victims, the heroes of the day.”
Six women testified against Brand during the trial about alleged incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009. The conviction followed a highly publicized criminal trial in London that examined behavior spanning a decade of Brand’s career.
The Metropolitan Police, known as the Met, announced following the verdict that two further rape allegations against Brand remain under active investigation. A Met spokesperson said: “The Met’s investigation into allegations of rape made by two women remains ongoing. The suspect has previously been interviewed under caution in connection with the allegations.”
The spokesperson added: “Files have been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to both complainants. Detectives remain in close contact with prosecutors as enquiries continue and further investigative work is carried out.”
The force said anyone wishing to speak to detectives or make a report can email the investigation team, or call 101 from within the UK quoting reference 2321/04NOV26.
Brand is due to be sentenced on Monday in London, while the Met’s investigation into the additional allegations continues.