Russell Brand Thanks Bear Grylls For Being At His Side During Christian Baptism
Comedian Russell Brand publicly thanked adventurer Bear Grylls for his help during his Christian baptism in the River Thames last week.
Brand shared that the baptism marked his “beautiful” first week as a Christian, calling the experience “profound” and “incredible.”
In a post to X, the comedian said: “Week one as a Christian has been amazing. The ceremony itself was incredible… I want to thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself.”
He described how, afterward, the trio got into the “necessary Christian life of helping people” by assisting an injured man in getting to hospital.
He described the event as “overwhelming,” noting the physical and spiritual immensity of being submerged in the Thames. “It was overwhelming, literally overwhelming because I was obviously underwater,” he explained.
The ceremony included “incredible and bizarre incidents” that felt “serendipitous,” according to Brand, who said he feels “blessed, relieved, nourished [and] held.”
Unpacking his newfound faith, Brand said: “I’ve been caught up in an illusion. I’ve been lost completely in self. And now I must learn to untether myself from the tendrils of selfishness, egotism and self-centeredness and awaken to something greater.”
He continued: “The Christianity that I’m learning about that is fascinating to me is not a precursor to psychiatry, it’s a precursor to quantum physics. It’s a precursor to a way of understanding consciousness, a way of understanding reality very deeply. “
Grylls, known for his survivalist television shows and devout Christianity, appears to have played a pivotal role in Brand’s spiritual journey. The adventurer has often spoken about the personal nature of faith.
This spiritual rebirth comes after a turbulent period for Brand, who was reportedly interviewed last year by police regarding historic sex offence allegations, which he has denied.
In April, Channel 4’s executive issued an apology to a former employee following an internal investigation that revealed the network failed to adequately address a “serious” complaint lodged against Brand in 2009.
The apology comes six months after the channel’s Dispatches program aired accusations of rape and sexual assault involving Brand, who has denied the allegations.
