Bear Grylls has said Russell Brand’s conversion to Christianity “seemed genuine” when he helped baptise the comedian in the River Thames.
The Man Vs Wild presenter and former SAS soldier assisted in lowering Brand, 51, into the water near his home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in April 2024.
Grylls, one of Britain’s most prominent Christian figures, has since faced pressure to explain why he took part in the ceremony, which occurred months after Brand had been accused of rape and sexual assault in a media investigation.
Brand was found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others yesterday. He had not been charged with any offence when the baptism took place.
In a statement shared on X this morning, Grylls described himself as a “guest” at the private ceremony and said attending was part of the responsibility of people of faith. He added that, at the time, he believed Brand’s renewed Christian faith was sincere.
Responding to the verdict, Grylls wrote: “Brand’s faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism.
“I have attended a few now. Even visiting in prisons with people who have committed terrible 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.
“Judgment is for the courts and God… I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.
“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.”
Russell Brand embraces Bear Grylls and friend and former boxer Joe McCann after his baptism in the Thames in April 2024
Grylls said on X that Brand’s conversion to Christianity appeared “genuine” when he attended the baptism
Brand and Grylls became friends while filming the reality series Running Wild
An earlier version of Grylls’ statement said he did not want to “not support” someone’s conversion to Christianity. That wording was deleted two minutes after the post went live.
The baptism took place several months after sexual assault allegations against Brand became public through a joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Channel 4, published in September 2023.
Brand announced his conversion to Christianity in early 2024. In April, he shared an Instagram photograph showing him in the Thames with Grylls and another friend, former boxer Joe McCann.
He captioned the image: “Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit. #baptism.”
Grylls has previously defended his decision to participate in the ceremony. The pair became friends while working together on the television programme Running Wild.
He told Our News Outlet that he considered it “a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness”.
Grylls has spoken openly about his Christian beliefs. He released the devotional book Soul Fuel in 2019 and published The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account, a retelling of Jesus’ story, in 2025.
Brand was convicted of rape and three sexual assault offences after a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.
Before the trial, Brand—once known as an eccentric, sexually outspoken comedian—had worked to present himself as a born-again Christian, following earlier interest in spiritualism and Hinduism.
He released a book titled How To Become A Christian In 7 Days in May. When he pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, he carried a Bible into court and wore a crucifix around his neck.
Footage later released by the Metropolitan Police showed Brand holding a Bible during police interviews following his conviction.
Brand attempted to recast himself as a born-again Christian after announcing his conversion months after the sexual assault allegations emerged
Brand struggled to answer when broadcaster Piers Morgan questioned him about his favourite Bible passages and scriptures.
Morgan sat in an extended silence as Brand searched through the Bible for a verse he said held particular significance for him.
As reported by the Mail this week, Brand has also moved from being a baptism candidate to conducting baptisms himself, reportedly helping baptise dozens of people in Florida.
The court heard that Brand targeted women he met while building a career as one of Britain’s best-known stand-up comedians, television and radio presenters, and Hollywood actors.
His accusers described how he pressured them into sexual activity, in some cases within moments of meeting them. Prosecutors said he used his celebrity status while pursuing his stated ambition of having sex with 5,000 women.
Southwark Crown Court heard that Brand, who had once claimed he would continue pursuing sex until achieving his “birthright orgasm”, ignored women who asked him to stop.
Six women gave evidence during the trial. Brand, who was previously married to singer Katy Perry, was unable to persuade celebrity friends or former entertainment colleagues to testify in his defence.
He was acquitted of two additional rape charges and one allegation of attempted indecent assault.
Katherine Ryan also spoke today about feeling both “grief and relief” after Brand’s conviction.
The Canadian comedian had previously referred to an unnamed “predator” in the entertainment industry. Many people believed she was referring to Brand, who appeared with her on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle in 2018.
Speaking on her podcast, Telling Everybody Everything, Ryan said: “It really made me feel just quite dysregulated again, caught off-guard, emotional, in awe of the survivors who also had nothing to gain.
“I will never be someone who, like, dances on graves. There has been some justice done today. There’s a level of relief, but there’s grief alongside relief.”
