Bear Grylls has broken his silence on why he’s supporting Russell Brand amid the scandal-hit comic’s sexual assault allegations.
Last year a Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 exposed allegations of sexual assaults during the height of his fame, as part of an investigation with The Sunday Times and The Times.
In October 2023, Russell, 49, faced serious accusations including rape and sexual assault when four women made allegations. The comedian has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations.
He later announced that he had been baptised, with his friend Bear present, and saw it as ‘an opportunity to leave the past behind’ and ‘leave behind the sins’ after he converted to Christianity.
The adventurer, 49, who has long been a devout Christian, was pictured embracing the comedian in the River Thames after his baptism in April and has now spoken out about supporting his friend and the allegations for the first time.
Bear Grylls has broken his silence on why he’s supporting Russell Brand amid the comic’s sexual assault allegations (pictured this week)
Russell, 49, faced serious accusations including rape and sexual assault when four women made allegations – he later announced that he had been baptised, with his friend Bear present,
Speaking to Confidential Bear explained: ‘Russell, you know, it was a privilege to stand beside him as he was getting baptised, that is a life journey for him.
‘I really wish him well and his lovely family. Let’s hope all of that stuff works itself out in a good way.
‘And let’s hope those accusations aren’t true, for everybody’s sake, but I always try and live without judging anyone. I stand beside many people … that’s a privilege, trying never to judge, always to love, always be kind, support people wherever they are.’
Russell was pictured hugging Bear in the River Thames after the scandal-hit comic revealed he’d been baptised.
The ceremony happened with his high profile friend Bear in attendance and a newly released photograph in May showed the pair embracing in a group hug.
Brand, Bear and an unknown person can be seen pictured stood in the River Thames after the comic’s baptism.
He posted the image on social media with the caption: ‘Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit.’
The survival expert and comedian had become friends through their television work.
The adventurer, who has long been a devout Christian, was pictured embracing the comedian in the River Thames after his baptism in April and has now spoken out for the first time
Speaking to Confidential Bear explained: I stand beside many people … that’s a privilege, trying never to judge, always to love, always be kind, support people wherever they are’ (pictured in January)
The survival expert and comedian had become friends through their television work (pictured on Running Wild with Bear Grylls television show)
Last year, Brand ventured across the Hebrides with Grylls in the former SAS trooper’s Apple TV+ show, Running Wild with Bear Grylls.
Brand had told his four million Instagram followers that his baptism was an ‘incredible and profound experience’.
He said: ‘This is my path now. And I already feel incredibly blessed, relieved, nourished, held.’
Brand had previously confirmed on social media Grylls, who is a Chief Scout, ‘and my mate Joe’ joined him for the traditional ceremony which dates back to the seventh century.
Christian baptisms are first recorded in the ‘holy’ River Swale nearly fourteen hundred years ago.
Nowadays, most churches baptise only at the font with a sprinkling of water over someone’s head.
Grylls previously told the Daily Mail: ‘Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal, but it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.
‘Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much.’
Grylls is one of Britain’s most prominent Christians and has appeared in marketing material for the Alpha course, an evangelical introduction to Christianity that is said to have recruited 29 million to the faith.
It was created by the Anglican priest Nicky Gumbel, of Holy Trinity Brompton, just across the road from Harrods in London’s Knightsbridge.
Grylls has spoken about the difference between faith and religion, as he sees it. ‘I meet so many people who don’t want ‘religion’ as such,’ he said.
‘I get it. I feel the same. And, in fact, so did Jesus, the heart of all Christian faith. Faith and religion are not the same thing.
‘The Jesus I read about in the Bible was fun, free and wild. He loved a party and he always hung out with the non-religious folk. The only people he ever got angry with were the overly religious types.’
The controversial comedian’s turn to Christianity comes amid allegations of rape and sexual assault.
He has retreated to his countryside Oxfordshire bolthole in recent months after being questioned by police twice in relation to allegations of rape.
Brand had told his four million Instagram followers that his baptism was an ‘incredible and profound experience’
The comedian has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations.
Since December he has posted a number of videos and pictures on social media in which he has discussed his relationship with Christianity.
In his baptism announcement, Brand said: ‘What’s been explained to me is, it’s an opportunity to die and be reborn. An opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ’s name.’
He then referenced a verse from scripture, adding: ‘Like it says in Galatians: that you can live as an enlightened and awakened person’, before saying that the prospect of baptism was ‘so inviting and beautiful.’
