Since then, Brand has gone on to become an influencer among Christians and other conservatives, infamously baptizing a friend while wearing only his underwear and hosting conversations with various Christian personalities, including Dallas and Amanda Jenkins, Jonathan Roumie, and Bear Grylls, among others.
Earlier this week, Brand appeared alongside award-winning worship artist Brandon Lake at an event where Lake announced the upcoming release of his new album “King of Hearts.”
“KING OF HEART…[Russell Brand] approved,” Lake said in an Instagram post. Brand commented, “Much love mate.”
That post has now been deleted.
On Friday (April 4), Brand posted a video to X responding to the charges.
“Hello! Firstly, thank you for these incredible and overwhelming messages of support,” Brand said. “We’re very fortunate, in a way, to live in a time where there’s so little trust in the British government.”
“We’re very fortunate, I suppose, that this is happening at a time where we know that the law has become a kind of weapon to be used against people, institutions, and sometimes entire nations that will not accept and tolerate levels of corruption that are unprecedented,” Brand continued. “And I’m speaking particularly to those of you that are watching this in the U.K. What do you feel about your legal system right now? How do you feel about some of the high-profile cases that are not being pursued and prosecuted?”
“Now, that’s just sort of general context,” Brand added. “Me? I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had my wife and family…I was a fool, man. I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord. I was a drug addict, a sex addict, and an imbecile.”
“But what I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity,” Brand said. “I pray that you can see that by looking in my eyes. I want to thank all of you for your continuing support.”
“And, of course, I’m now going to have the opportunity to defend these charges in court, and I’m incredibly grateful for that,” Brand concluded. “In the meantime, you lot, stay free. And we will be continuing to discuss this matter. Praise the Lord.”
Brand is due to appear in a London court on May 2.
