Bear Grylls Helped Baptize Russell Brand. After the Rape Conviction, He Says “Justice Has Now Been Served”
by Sari Moon · Thought CatalogBy Sari Moon
Updated 4 minutes ago, November 7, 2026
Bear Grylls, who helped baptize Russell Brand, says of the comedian’s rape conviction: “It is right that justice has now been served.”
The “Man vs. Wild” host called the women in Brand’s rape and sexual assault case “the heroes of the day” after the guilty verdict, while explaining why he’d taken part in Brand’s 2024 baptism.
Grylls addressed the conviction on X on November 6. “Brand’s faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism,” he wrote.
Grylls had helped baptize Brand in the River Thames less than a year after allegations against the comedian were made public in September 2023. Brand had appeared on Grylls’ “Running Wild” earlier in 2023, before the allegations emerged. He later converted to Christianity and regularly discussed his faith on social media.
Explaining his participation, Grylls said he’d also visited people in prison who’d committed terrible crimes. “It’s part of our calling as men and women of faith, to love and serve anyone,” he wrote. “I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.”
He also addressed the verdict directly: “It is right that justice has now been served. I can’t imagine how hard this time has been for the victims, the heroes of the day.”
On November 5, a London jury convicted Brand of 1 count of rape and 3 counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of 2 other rape charges and 1 count of attempted indecent assault. Brand had pleaded not guilty and denied all the allegations.
After the verdict, the Metropolitan Police said they were investigating further rape allegations against Brand from 2 women.
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