Russell Brand announces plan to be baptised as it's 'an opportunity to leave the past behind'

Release time：2024-05-21 08:13:57 Source：Culture Compass news portal

Russell Brand has announced that he is 'taking the plunge' and is soon going to be baptised as it is an 'opportunity to leave the past behind'. 

The controversial comedian and actor, 48, took to Instagram this week to say he was cementing his Christian faith - after a difficult year.

Last year a Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 exposed allegations of sexual assaults during the height of his fame, as part of an investigation with The Sunday Times and The Times.

In October 2023, Russell faced serious accusations from a series of women, including rape and sexual assault when four women made allegations. The comedian has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations.

Announcing his planned baptism as he spoke in a video in his garden, Russell said: 'This Sunday, I'm taking the plunge. I'm getting baptised.

Russell Brand has announced that he is 'taking the plunge' and is soon going to be baptised as it is an 'opportunity to leave the past behind'

Last year a Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 exposed allegations of sexual assaults during the height of his fame, as part of an investigation with The Sunday Times and The Times

'What's been explained to me is, it's an opportunity to die and be reborn. An opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ's name.'

He then referenced a verse from scripture, adding: 'Like it says in Galatians: that you can live as an enlightened and awakened person', before saying that the prospect of baptism was 'so inviting and beautiful'. 

He went on as he further explained his decision: 'People are so cynical about the increasing interest in Christianity and the return to God, but to me, it's obvious. 

'As meaning deteriorates in the modern world, as our value systems and institutions crumble, all of us become increasingly aware that there is this eerily familiar awakening and beckoning figure that we've all known all of our lives, within us and around us.

'And for me it's very exciting.' 

The media personality also said that he was 'thinking about doing it in the River Thames' but had recently researched that the river has high levels of E. coli in it. 

He then quipped: 'I may be leaving behind the sins, but I might be picking up some pretty serious viruses.'

Controversial comedian Russell has retreated to his countryside Oxfordshire bolthole in recent months after being questioned by police twice in relation to allegations of rape. 

In October 2023, Russell faced serious accusations from a series of women, including rape and sexual assault when four women made allegations to the Sunday Times and Channel 4's Dispatches programme, and then a slew of further claims emerged as women told their stories to newspapers and the BBC. 

The controversial comedian and actor, 48, took to Instagram this week to say he was cementing his Christian faith - after a difficult year

Announcing his planned baptism as he spoke in a video in his garden, Russell said: 'This Sunday, I'm taking the plunge. I'm getting baptized'

In October 2023, Russell faced serious accusations from a series of women, including rape and sexual assault when four women made allegations 

The comedian has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations. He has called the claims a conspiracy by the 'mainstream media' 

The comedian has strenuously denied wrongdoing, and says he has evidence to refute allegations. He has called the claims a conspiracy by the 'mainstream media'.

Russell has always maintained that his relationships were consensual and has hired Prince Andrew's 'pit bull' lawyer to fight the sex claims in the US. 

After the claims came to light, Russell appeared on Tucker Carlson's show last month, where he referenced the allegations he faces and the ongoing police and BBC investigations several times.

Speaking on Carlson's broadcast, Brand said: 'I reject the allegations in the strongest possible terms. I am aware I have put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous.'

'Attacks like this, accused of what I consider to be the most appalling crimes, is very painful and hurtful. But there are consequences to the foolish way I lived in the past,' he continued.

Brand described the crimes he's accused of as 'appalling' before adding criticism he faces is a 'deliberate profound attempt to shut down any dissent in an astonishingly aggressive way'.

Brand has been questioned by detectives from London's Metropolitan Police over allegations of historical sex offences. 

The force said in September it had launched an investigation into a number of allegations of non-recent sexual offences following media reports that women had accused Brand of a string of sexual assaults.

Brand has rejected what he has described as 'very serious allegations', saying on his social media channels he has never had non-consensual sex. There have been no charges brought in the UK. 

The actor and comedian has hired Hollywood powerhouse Andrew Brettler to fight the sex claims in the US. 

During the discussion, he also said that at the time of the documentary his infant son who was 12 weeks old at the time was undergoing heart surgery.

After the claims came to light, Russell appeared on Tucker Carlson's show last month, where he referenced the allegations he faces 

Brand has been questioned by detectives from London's Metropolitan Police over allegations of historical sex offences (seen in the documentary) 

The Russell Brand Dispatches documentary on Channel 4 has been nominated for a TV BAFTA (a still from the documentary is pictured)  

'My son was born with a heart condition, while this was happening he was undergoing heart surgery at 12 weeks old,' he told Carlson.

Brand has been questioned by police twice in relation to a total of nine alleged offences and police inquiries are ongoing. He has always maintained that his relationships were consensual.

MailOnline previously revealed that Russell, who shares three children with his wife of seven years, Laura Gallacher, has been running his business operation out of a disused pub in the town of Pishill, Oxfordshire.

The report went onto disclose that Brand, despite his consistent claims that he has been canceled as a result of the sexual assault allegations, makes nearly £5 million per year from his controversial content.

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