Russell Brand Says He’s Getting Baptized, Calls It an Opportunity To Die and Be Reborn

Russell Brand is cementing his faith by getting baptized, saying it is an “opportunity to leave the past behind.”

This development comes less than a year after serious sexual assault allegations against the comedian and actor came to light.

“This Sunday, I’m taking the plunge. I’m getting baptised,” he shared with his nearly 4 million followers on Instagram last 26 April.

“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 added. 

The “Rock of Ages” star then referenced a verse from the Bible, adding “Like it says in Galatians: that you can live as an enlightened and awakened person.” Brand went on to say that the idea of being baptized was “so inviting and beautiful.” 

“People are cynical about the increasing interest in Christianity and the return to God, but to me, it’s obvious,” he stated. 

“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 celebrity elaborated.

Brand, who became famous as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth, said that he initially wanted to get baptized in London’s River Thames. “So I could be getting baptised in toxoplasmosis and E. coli, based on what I’ve learnt. I may be leaving behind my sins but I might be picking up some serious viruses,” he joked. 

Well, leaving behind his sins may refer to the sexual allegations where he was accused of raping, sexually assaulting, and abusing four women—one of whom is believed to have been a minor at the time. The incidents allegedly happened over seven years, from 2006 to 2013. The highly publicized accusations were investigated by news outlets like The Sunday Times, The Times, and Channel 4’s “Dispatches.” 

Brand, who was married to Katy Perry between 2010 and 2012, has strongly denied all the accusations,  including rumors of his controlling, abusive, and predatory behavior. 

After police investigations commenced, the Get Him to the Greek star sat down with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. In a YouTube video, he addressed the allegations and discussed their impact on his life. He stated that it was “very, very painful” to be accused of “what I consider to be the most appalling crimes.” 

“I am aware that I put myself in an extremely vulnerable position by being very, very promiscuous. That is not the kind of conduct that I endorse, and it’s certainly not how I would live now,” the Despicable Me 2 star said. 

He added that all of his sexual interactions were “absolutely always consensual.”

As his son “was undergoing heart surgery” when the allegations surfaced, Brand claimed that they made him aware of what was “important in life.” He reiterated, “I deny any allegations of the kind that have been advanced.”

An internal investigation by Channel 4 admitted that there is “no evidence” that its bosses or Channel 4 employees were aware of Brand’s troubling behavior. 

“It did find that one former Channel 4 employee made a serious and concerning allegation about Russell Brand in 2009.” The boss has apologized to her on behalf of the organization “for this breakdown and for the distress this matter has caused.”

As for the sexual allegations against Brand, we’ve yet to discover if the victims who came forward will push through with legal action.