Photo via Evening Standard

Bear Grylls responds to Russell Brand's guilty verdict as he defends 'genuine' baptism

Read the original at Evening Standard ↗
Cite

Bishop, H. (2026, November 6). Bear Grylls responds to Russell Brand's guilty verdict as he defends 'genuine' baptism. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/russell-brand-bear-grylls-baptism-b1303899.html

Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.

Evening Standard · collected 2026-11-06 · by Holly Bishop

Quick Summary

Bear Grylls responded to Russell Brand’s recent guilty verdict on X by stating that he believed Brand’s faith was genuine when Brand underwent baptism several years ago, which Grylls also attended. Grylls defended his involvement by emphasizing the importance of support for those seeking spiritual guidance and forgiveness, regardless of their past actions. He acknowledged the need for justice while expressing empathy for victims, noting the difficult period this must have been for them.
Written by AI on 2026-11-06, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Bear Grylls responded to Russell Brand's guilty verdict on Instagram, defending Brand’s faith as "genuine." The event occurred months after Brand faced allegations of rape, sexual assault, and controlling behavior from five women. These accusations were detailed in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times newspapers. Following these allegations, the Metropolitan Police began investigating the claims in September 2023. Grylls participated in Brand's private baptism on the River Thames and defended his involvement by stating that "judgement is for the courts and God," emphasizing that faith should not be discouraged regardless of one’s past actions.

Written for “Bear Grylls Defends Baptism Ceremony” on 2026-11-07, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Bear Grylls Defends Baptism Ceremony
Entertainment · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Russell Brand Guilty Of Rape Different event
BBC News
Hedges 2 of 11 claims Outlet record 66/100
“While both articles discuss Russell Brand's guilty verdict, Article B focuses on Bear Grylls' response and defense of Brand's faith, not the trial or verdict details.”
I covered every day of the Russell Brand trial... no amount of prayers were ever going to save him Different event
Daily Mail
Hedges 10 of 47 claims Outlet record 69/100
“The articles discuss different aspects of Russell Brand's legal situation and his religious activities, but do not describe the exact same incident occurring at the same time.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Entertainment
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-11-06 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Evening Standard · 9087 article(s) · 74 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 74 correction(s)
2026-11-05
Arsenal injury update: Ezri Konsa, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka latest return dates
2026-11-02
Tottenham injury update: Lucas Bergvall, Mykhailo Mudryk and Savio latest news and return dates
2026-11-02
Arsenal injury update: Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba latest news and return dates
2026-11-02
Manchester United injury update: Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw latest news and return dates
2026-11-02
Liverpool injury update: Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Giovanni Leoni latest news and return dates
2026-11-02
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Jordan Henderson, Emi Martinez latest news and return dates
2026-11-01
Manchester United injury update: Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw latest news and return dates
2026-11-01
Liverpool injury update: Dominik Szoboszlai, Victor Munoz, Jeremie Frimpong latest news and return dates
2026-10-31
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Emi Martinez, Reece James latest news and return dates
2026-10-31
Manchester United injury update: Benjamin Sesko, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates
2026-10-30
Arsenal injury update: Riccardo Calafiori, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke latest news and return dates
2026-10-30
Manchester United injury update: Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw latest news and return dates
2026-10-28
Arsenal injury update: Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke latest news and return dates
2026-10-26
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Emi Martinez and Pep Chavarria latest news and return dates
2026-10-26
Arsenal injury update: Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka, Christos Tzolis latest news and return dates
2026-10-26
Tottenham injury update: James Maddison, Destiny Udogie and Savio latest news and return dates
2026-10-26
Manchester United injury update: Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw latest news and return dates
2026-10-26
Liverpool injury update: Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Victor Munoz latest news and return dates
2026-10-22
Manchester United injury update: Marcus Rashford, Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates
2026-10-22
Arsenal injury update: Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie, Christos Tzolis latest news and return dates
2026-10-22
Chelsea injury update: Emi Martinez, Pep Chavarria, Reece James latest news and return dates
2026-10-22
Tottenham injury update: Omar Marmoush, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro latest news and return dates
2026-10-21
Manchester City injury update: Antoine Semenyo, Mathues Nunes and Nico O'Reilly latest news and return dates
2026-10-20
Tottenham injury update: Omar Marmoush, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro latest news and return dates
2026-10-19
Liverpool injury update: Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike latest news and return dates
2026-10-19
Chelsea injury update: Emi Martinez, Pep Chavarria, Malo Gusto latest news and return dates
2026-10-19
Manchester United injury update: Lisandro Martinez, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko latest news and return dates
2026-10-19
Manchester City injury update: Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo and Nico O'Reilly latest news and return dates
2026-10-16
Real Madrid call for La Liga president to resign after Joseph Goebbels comparison
2026-10-14
UK economy predicted to decline ahead of Budget
2026-10-14
Arsenal injury update: Piero Hincapie, Christos Tzolis, Martin Zubimendi latest news and return dates
2026-10-14
Tottenham injury update: Dejan Kulusevski, Pedro Porro, Xavi Simons latest news and return dates
2026-10-14
Chelsea injury update: Reece James, Emmanuel Emegha, Jamie Gittens latest news and return dates
2026-10-12
Manchester United injury update: Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, Noussair Mazraoui latest news and return dates
2026-10-12
Tottenham injury update: Pedro Porro, Xavi Simons and Dejan Kulusevski latest news and return dates
2026-10-12
Chelsea injury update: Reece James, Jamie Gittens, Emmanuel Emegha latest news and potential return dates
2026-10-12
Liverpool injury update: Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo latest news and return dates
2026-10-11
UK economy set to contract after strong start to summer, say experts
2026-10-09
Fact check: Free bus travel scheme and video of women queuing
2026-10-08
Tottenham injury update: Latest return dates before Manchester United after new double scare
2026-10-08
Manchester City injury update: Erling Haaland, Nico O'Reilly and Antoine Semenyo latest news and return dates
2026-10-08
Manchester United injury update: Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko latest news and return dates
2026-10-08
Arsenal injury update: Ezri Konsa, Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates (cloned)
2026-10-08
Chelsea injury update: Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro latest news and return dates
2026-10-08
Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Jeremy Jacquet latest news and return dates
2026-10-06
Arsenal injury update: Ezri Konsa, Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates
2026-10-06
Chelsea injury update: Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer latest news and return dates
2026-10-05
Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike latest news and return dates
2026-10-05
Manchester United injury update: Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates
2026-10-05
Tottenham injury update: Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke, Pedro Porro latest news and return dates
2026-10-05
Arsenal injury update: Christos Tzolis, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice latest news and return dates
2026-10-05
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo latest news and return dates
2026-10-02
Arsenal injury update: Christos Tzolis, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates
2026-10-01
Manchester United injury update: Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates
2026-09-28
Arsenal injury update: Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates
2026-09-28
Arsenal injury update: Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Piero Hincapie latest news and return dates
2026-09-28
Manchester United injury update: Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo latest news and return dates
2026-09-28
Liverpool injury update: Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike latest news and return dates
2026-09-27
Chelsea injury update: Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Reece James latest news and return dates
2026-09-24
Arsenal injury update: Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, William Saliba latest news and return dates
2026-09-24
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Cole Palmer, Reece James latest news and return dates
2026-09-21
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Reece James, Moises Caicedo latest news and return dates
2026-09-21
Arsenal injury update: Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and William Saliba latest news and return dates
2026-09-21
Tottenham injury update: Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski and Mykhailo Mudryk latest news and return dates
2026-09-21
Manchester United injury update: Benjamin Sesko, Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo latest news and return dates
2026-09-21
Liverpool injury update: Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa latest news and return dates
2026-09-17
Tottenham injury update: Sandro Tonali, Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski latest news and return dates
2026-09-17
Liverpool injury update: Hugo Ekitike, Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Leoni latest news and return dates
2026-09-17
Man Utd injury update: Luke Shaw, Amad Diallo, Carlos Baleba latest news and return dates
2026-09-17
Arsenal injury update: Jurrien Timber, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera latest news and potential return dates
2026-09-17
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra latest news and return dates
2026-09-16
Chelsea injury update: Joao Pedro, Reece James, Moises Caicedo latest news and return dates
2026-09-11
Liverpool injury update: Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Milos Kerkez latest news and return dates
2026-09-10
Chelsea injury update: Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra latest updates and return dates

Who wrote this

Holly Bishop
97 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.
2026-11-06 · assertive framing · Bear Grylls responds to Russell Brand's guilty verdict as he defends 'genuine' baptism
🔮 Read More “It didn’t make me feel Christmassy and to be honest if they were my kids they wouldn’t be getting any presents they were so rude,” said one social media user.
2026-11-06 · assertive framing · M&S Christmas advert hailed 'best ever' by viewers - watch
🔮 The media personality returned to Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday morning (November 4), with the jury of eight men and four women set to continue their deliberations.
2026-11-04 · assertive framing · Who is Laura Gallacher? Russell Brand’s wife by husband's side as he awaits rape trial verdicts
🔮 Speaking to Emma Willis following his elimination, he said: “It's the most intense, the most incredible, the most loving, caring and wonderful family to be part of.
2026-11-02 · assertive framing · 'For me, you're an absolute 10': Jowita's tribute to eliminated Strictly star Lawrence Robb
🔮 Speculation has been rife as to who will become the next iteration of the iconic spy, after Craig left the franchise after No Time To Die in 2021.
2026-11-02 · assertive framing · Jack Lowden finally addresses 'flattering' James Bond rumours as 007 speculation grows
🔮 She will be accompanied by Sienna Spiro, as well as many other acts who are yet to be announced.
2026-11-02 · assertive framing · RAYE announced as BST Hyde Park 2027 headliner in homecoming show
🔮 “I hope it inspires people to be more creative and do stuff, and get experimenting with stuff that they maybe haven't tried before.
2026-10-31 · assertive framing · 'Any excuse to wear armour': Londoners embrace second round of Lime e-bike jousting
🔮 Will they lick their wounds and go on to outwit the Faithfuls to win the prize pot?
2026-10-30 · assertive framing · BBC addresses James Acaster 'welfare' after shocking Celebrity Traitors confession
🔮 Celebrity Traitors: How James Acaster’s explosive admission may mean the Faithful win against the odds
2026-10-30 · assertive framing · Celebrity Traitors: How James Acaster’s explosive admission may mean the Faithful win against the odds
🔮 Fans are in for a treat as the finale will last for an extra 20 minutes, ending at the slightly later time of 9.20pm.
2026-10-30 · assertive framing · What time is the final of Celebrity Traitors tonight?
Also by Holly Bishop
M&S Christmas advert hailed 'best ever' by viewers - watch
2026-11-06 · Evening Standard
Who is Laura Gallacher? Russell Brand’s wife by husband's side as he awaits rape trial verdicts
2026-11-04 · Evening Standard
'For me, you're an absolute 10': Jowita's tribute to eliminated Strictly star Lawrence Robb
2026-11-02 · Evening Standard
Jack Lowden finally addresses 'flattering' James Bond rumours as 007 speculation grows
2026-11-02 · Evening Standard
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 97 articles by Holly Bishop →

Topics

Capital Radio Channel 4 Dispatches Instagram The Metropolitan Police Times

Subjects

Brand PERSON · 4× Grylls PERSON · 3× Bear Grylls PERSON · 1× Capital Radio ORG · 1× Channel 4 Dispatches ORG · 1× Instagram ORG · 1× Jesus PERSON · 1× The Holy Spirit PERSON · 1× The Metropolitan Police ORG · 1× Times ORG · 1×

Narrative

The baptism took place just months after after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and controlling and emotionally abusive behaviour by five women in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times newspapers.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-06
🔮 I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith.
2026-11-06 · Evening Standard
Bear Grylls responds to Russell Brand's guilty verdict as he defends 'genuine' baptism · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 0 hedged)

Writing on X, the adventurer wrote: “Brand’s faith seemed genuine to me at the time when I was a guest at his private baptism.” asserted
I → write → baptism
At the time, Brand shared a photo on Instagram of the Grylls embracing him and wrote: “Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit.” asserted
Grylls → share → course
Grylls continued: “I have attended a few now. asserted
I → continue → few
Even visiting in prisons with people who have committed terrible crimes. asserted
who → visit → crimes
“It’s part of our calling as men and women of faith, to love and serve anyone. asserted
It → ’ → anyone
It is the sick that need healing. asserted
that → need → healing
I wouldn’t want to ever discourage someone’s coming to faith. asserted
someone → want → faith
“It is right that justice has now been served. asserted
justice → serve → ?
I can’t imagine how hard this time has been for the victims, the heroes of the day.” asserted
time → imagine → day
The baptism took place just months after after Brand was accused of rape, sexual assault and controlling and emotionally abusive behaviour by five women in a joint investigation by Channel 4 Dispatches and the Times newspapers. asserted
Brand → take → Dispatches
The Metropolitan Police then began investigating the allegations in September 2023. asserted
Police → begin → September
Grylls went on to defend his participation in the baptism by saying he lives by the mantra “What would Jesus do?”. asserted
Jesus → go → What
“Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal,” he explained. asserted
he → explain → lives
“But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above.” asserted
they → stand → forgiveness
The actor and comedian was found guilty of raping a young fan he met after one of his Hammersmith Apollo shows in 2009. asserted
he → find → 2009
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker after encountering her in a corridor in 2005 and of sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker during a forced massage in 2009. asserted
He → find → 2009
Brand was found guilty of groping an MTV worker during a party at a Soho bar in 2004, but found not guilty of orally raping her in a toilet. asserted
Brand → find → toilet
💬Give feedback · no sign-in needed

No sign-in needed for now. Your note is sent without a name, so it cannot be answered.

🕘History 🎫Support
Terms · Privacy · beta v2.0.0
Articles to 9 Nov 2026