British comedian and actor Russell Brand is stirring outrage on social media after posting a photo that shows him baptising a man.

The 49-year-old captioned the image: “It might seem a bit soon to be baptising people, but the Apostles did it on day one, so here we are.” This remark prompted a wave of backlash from many of his followers.

The discomfort surrounding the photo stemmed not only from the act of baptising someone but also from the fact that he did so while wearing only white underwear, in stark contrast to the man being baptised, who was clad in neoprene.

One user said: “Doing this in your underwear is utterly inappropriate. This is a 'tell,' a sign of irreverence of the holiness of Abba Pater. Big TELL moment here making yourself the centre of attention.” Another echoed similar sentiments, accusing him of “purposely mocking Christianity”.

In recent months, Brand has publicly announced his conversion to Christianity. He was baptised in the River Thames with the assistance of Bear Grylls, although details regarding his church or pastor remain unclear.

Rev Andy Fitchet also commented on the post saying: “I’ve baptised loads of people and always managed to keep my clothes on when doing it… strangely enough. This man is under investigation for abuse and rape. He should be nowhere near offering the sacraments. He is not an apostle.”

In September 2023, allegations of sexual assault against Brand were published following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times, and Channel 4's Dispatches. In November 2023, Brand was questioned by the Metropolitan Police in connection with these allegations, which he has denied.

However, not all of his followers expressed outrage; some congratulated him for doing “God’s work.” One user wrote: “Proud of you. You are doing God's work, and you don't have to be saved a long time to do that. What an excellent example. God bless you.”