Grylls Praises Victims After Brand Guilty

Six women testified against Russell Brand in a London court on Thursday, leading to a guilty verdict on four charges.

Brand was found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Despite the verdict, Brand has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings.

Bear Grylls, the adventurer and host of "Man vs. Wild," weighed in on the outcome on Friday. Grylls helped baptize Brand in the River Thames in 2024. That event took place less than a year after the Sunday Times and Channel 4 first exposed the allegations against Brand. Brand had previously appeared on Grylls' show "Running Wild" in 2023.

In a post on X, Grylls reflected on his involvement in the baptism. He stated that Brand's faith seemed genuine to him at the time. Grylls noted that he has attended several baptisms, including those of individuals in prison who committed serious crimes. He described loving and serving others as a core part of their faith, adding that he did not want to discourage anyone from coming to faith.

Grylls acknowledged the legal outcome with a clear statement. He wrote that justice had now been served. He described the victims as the heroes of the day and expressed empathy for the difficulty they faced during the trial period.

The Metropolitan Police announced after the verdict that they are investigating further rape allegations against Brand. These new claims come from two women. The initial trial covered alleged incidents that occurred between 1999 and 2009.

Brand was taken into police custody immediately after the ruling. He will appear for sentencing on Monday.