Bear Grylls has said Russell Brand’s Christian faith appeared genuine when he attended the comedian’s private baptism in the River Thames in 2024.
In a post on X on Friday, the Christian adventurer and TV personality commented following Brand’s conviction for rape and three counts of sexual assault, saying he did not want to discourage anyone from coming to faith.
“Brand’s faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism,” he wrote.
Grylls also expressed sympathy for the women who came forward during the trial, describing them as “the heroes of the day”.
“I can’t imagine how hard this time has been for the victims, the heroes of the day,” he added.
He said he had attended several baptisms, including in prisons, involving people who had committed serious crimes.
“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,” he said.
“I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.”
However, Grylls also acknowledged the importance of the court's verdict, saying: “It is right that justice has now been served.”
Brand was baptised in the River Thames in April 2024, with Grylls and a friend standing alongside him during the ceremony.
At the time, the comedian described his first week as a Christian as “amazing”, thanking Grylls for helping him through the baptism.
Brand had previously spoken publicly about his conversion, describing Christianity as an opportunity to change his outlook on life and move away from what he called “selfishness, egotism and self-centeredness”.
His conversion attracted controversy because it came after allegations of rape and sexual assault were made public in September 2023, following a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches.
While some Christians defended the possibility of his spiritual transformation and redemption, others have questioned the sincerity of his newfound faith.
Brand has consistently denied the allegations against him.
Since his conversion in early 2024, Brand has shared numerous videos about his Christian journey on social media and written a book about his conversion with many Christians remaining sceptical of him.
The scepticism was also intensified following an interview with Piers Morgan in April 2025, when he struggled to identify a Bible passage he had previously cited.
During the interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Brand was questioned about the significance of a Bible he had taken to Southwark Crown Court. He struggled to locate a passage when Morgan pressed him on which parts of Scripture he had been reading.
Despite that, though, many Christians online have remained behind him, supporting his Christian conversion and accusing other believers of being "judgmental".
Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against four women on Thursday following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.
The offences took place between 2004 and 2009.
He was acquitted of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.
Brand denied all the charges against him during the trial. He is due to be sentenced on Monday, 9 November.