Russell Brand has announced that he has been baptized in London’s River Thames, revealing that the experience has “changed” him.
In a video shared on social media, the scandal-scarred comedian, 48, said the baptism has left him feeling “transitioned” — seven months after being slapped with several sexual assault allegations.
“Yesterday I got baptized and it was an incredible, profound experience,” Brand said in an Instagram video shared Monday.
“Many of you will have had your own experiences of baptism and will therefore know what I’m talking about. Many aspects of it were very intimate and personal.”
“The truth is this, as a person that has in the past taken many, many substances and always been disappointed with their inability to deliver the kind of tranquility and peace and even transcendence I always felt I’ve been looking for, something occurred in the process of baptism that was incredible, overwhelming — literally overwhelming because I was obviously underwater, and it was the River Thames — at some points. So I felt changed, transitioned,” he said, mentioning his past drug use.
While he admits that he feels like a “changed” man, he said the experience hasn’t made him perfect overnight.
“I’ve already felt irritation,” he shared. “I got three children. I got a job. I’ve got challenges. I still live in the world. But I feel a new resource in me has switched on.”
Katy Perry’s ex-husband said he ultimately decided to get baptized “for myself,” but hopes “it will be relevant to my family, in particular to my children.”
“I’m learning and I will make mistakes, but this is my path now and I already feel incredibly blessed, relieved, nourished, held,” he added. “It’s been an incredible experience.”
“I’m so grateful to be surrendered in Christ,” he concluded the video message shared with his 3.9 million followers on the platform.
In September 2023, Brand was accused of raping and sexually assaulting four women, including a 16-year-old.
Brand was accused of raping, sexually assaulting and abusing four women over the course of seven years from 2006 to 2013.
Brand denied the allegations in a video on YouTube and X, formerly Twitter, alerting fans to “serious criminal” allegations that he said would be made against him.
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks, are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” Branded shared. “The relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”
While the investigation proceeds, YouTube has suspended Brand from making money on the video streaming site, his pub “Crown Inn,” located in Pishill, Britain, has been temporarily shut down and BBC has formally launched a review into the comedian’s time at the network.
Following the claims, London’s Metropolitan Police launched a full-scale investigation into “a number of allegations of sexual offenses” against Brand, who has vehemently denied them.
The”Forgetting Sarah Marshall” actor claimed the allegations were nothing more than a conspiracy to silence him and “independent media voices.”
The Met Police said the allegations were all non-recent, and Brand — who maintains his innocence — has not been charged with anything.
Days later, Brand posted a video on social media in which he begged his fans for their support as well as financial help after what he described as a “distressing week.”