Bear Grylls has publicly addressed Russell Brand's rape and sexual assault conviction, two years after attending the comedian's baptism in the River Thames.
The adventurer and television presenter issued a statement on Friday, November 6, following the verdict at Brand's highly publicised criminal trial in London.
Brand was found guilty on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
He was acquitted of two further rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The 51-year-old comedian, who has denied the allegations against him, was taken into police custody following the verdict and is due to be sentenced on Monday, November 9.
Grylls' response has attracted particular attention because of his previous association with Brand, including his attendance at the comedian's Christian baptism in 2024.
What did Bear Grylls say about Russell Brand's conviction?
Writing on X on November 6, Grylls defended the sincerity of Brand's religious conversion while acknowledging the seriousness of the guilty verdict and expressing sympathy for the victims.
He began by reflecting on the baptism he had attended two years earlier.
"Brand's faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism," Grylls wrote.
The former SAS serviceman explained that his Christian beliefs had previously led him to spend time with people convicted of serious crimes, including during visits to prisons.
He said his faith encouraged him to show compassion towards others, regardless of their past actions.
Grylls added that he would not want to discourage someone from exploring Christianity, even when that person had faced serious allegations.
However, he also made clear that his religious beliefs did not mean dismissing the outcome of Brand's trial.
"It is right that justice has now been served," Grylls wrote.
He went on to acknowledge the suffering experienced by the victims, describing them as the heroes of the day.
His statement distinguished between supporting someone's religious journey and accepting the findings of a criminal court.
Why did Bear Grylls help baptise Russell Brand?
Grylls was present when Brand underwent a Christian baptism in the River Thames in 2024.
The ceremony attracted considerable public attention because Brand had begun speaking openly about his religious beliefs following the emergence of serious allegations against him.
Brand's baptism took place less than a year after allegations about his conduct were reported in a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.
Following the ceremony, Brand increasingly discussed Christianity, prayer and his personal religious journey through his social media channels.
Grylls, who has frequently spoken about his own Christian faith, attended the ceremony as a guest.
His involvement subsequently became a point of discussion as Brand's criminal case progressed.
However, attending a baptism does not establish that someone knew about, approved of or participated in another person's alleged or proven criminal conduct.
How do Bear Grylls and Russell Brand know each other?
The two television personalities had crossed paths professionally before Brand's baptism.
In 2023, Brand appeared as a guest on Grylls' adventure series Running Wild.
The programme, known for taking celebrities into challenging outdoor environments, brought the pair together before the allegations against Brand became widely publicised.
Their later association through Christianity attracted renewed attention after Brand was charged and subsequently convicted.
Grylls' latest statement is his public response to the verdict and the questions surrounding his previous involvement in the baptism.
What was Russell Brand found guilty of?
Brand was convicted on November 5, 2026, of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a criminal trial in London.
He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Six women gave evidence during the trial concerning alleged incidents said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009.
The verdict followed years of public scrutiny surrounding allegations against the former television presenter and comedian.
Brand has denied the allegations, but the jury returned guilty verdicts on four of the charges.
He is expected to be sentenced on Monday, November 9.
What have other celebrities said about Russell Brand?
Grylls is not the only public figure to respond following Brand's conviction.
Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan, who previously worked alongside Brand on Comedy Central's Roast Battle, discussed the verdict on her Telling Everything podcast.
Ryan criticised the narrative Brand had promoted about the allegations and expressed admiration for the women who came forward.
She also spoke about the emotional impact of the verdict and the difficulties faced by those making allegations against powerful public figures.
Journalist Emily Maitlis, who interviewed Brand on BBC Newsnight in 2017, also reflected on his previous celebrity status.
She suggested that Brand's popularity and influence had contributed to an environment in which people felt unable to speak openly about concerns surrounding his behaviour.
Maitlis also revisited a question she had asked Brand during their 2017 interview about how he would feel if his daughter encountered someone with his reputation.
Following the conviction, she described listening back to that exchange as chilling.
Police confirm further allegations remain under investigation
Meanwhile, London's Metropolitan Police have confirmed that two further allegations of rape against Brand remain under investigation.
In a statement issued following the verdict, the force explained that Brand had previously been interviewed under caution in connection with those allegations.
Police also confirmed that files relating to both complainants had been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Detectives remain in contact with prosecutors while additional investigative work continues.
These are separate allegations, and no determination of guilt has been made in relation to them.
The Metropolitan Police have encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the investigation team.
What happens next for Russell Brand?
Brand is due to be sentenced on November 9 following his conviction on four charges.
The court will determine the appropriate sentence, taking into account the offences and the relevant legal considerations.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police's separate investigation into two additional allegations remains ongoing.
For Grylls, the verdict has also brought renewed scrutiny of his decision to attend Brand's baptism in 2024.
His response sought to explain why he had supported Brand's religious journey while also recognising the court's verdict and the experiences of the victims.
The statement marks his first reported public response to the conviction, bringing renewed attention to the relationship between the two television personalities.
Source: UNILAD, November 6, 2026, reporting on Bear Grylls' public statement and the Metropolitan Police's response to the verdict.
