Actor and comedian Russell Brand defended himself following backlash over performing a baptism last month while in his underwear. According to The Christian Post, Brand shared a photo on social media of him and a friend performing a baptism while he is solely wearing underwear.
"It might seem a bit soon to be baptizing people, but the Apostles did it on day one, so here we are," he captioned the photo posted Sept. 28.
The photo was met with both praise and criticism, with one person commenting: "Moved by your faith, but bro maybe more modest."
On Sept. 30th, Brand addressed the controversy in a video message.
"I suppose lookin' at it now, it does look a bit immodest, me doin' a baptism in underpants like that. But the truth is, I took off my clothes, and my underpants are all I'm wearing underneath my clothes," he said. "That's what I'm wearing right now. It wasn't a planned photo shoot. Some of my mates took photos for their friend, actually. Evan was getting baptized."
"Anyway, some people thought it was a little immodest and me showing off, judging from the comments," he added. "You know, I read the comments below. But what I'd say is this — and I'm a little bit of a showoff — the Lord made me a little bit of a showoff, but it is for Him that I am showing off now, not for me."
Are these tighty-whities satanic?!? Philippians 1:15-18 pic.twitter.com/DQaktVz2tP
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) September 30, 2024
Reading from the scriptures, the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" actor referenced Philippians 1:15-18, which he had included and linked in his post, as well with the caption, "Are these tighty-whities satanic?!?"
"It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains, the passage says. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this, I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice."
"And I think that is so beautiful because, you know, I'm a person that's come out of the entertainment industry," Brand continued. "I'm so grateful I've been saved, chosen, that He has found me."
"But I've still got the attributes of a showoff," he continued. "I suppose if I didn't have, I wouldn't even post a thing like that. But the reason I'm in them underpants, cause them's my underpants, and the reason I'm doing that baptism — because I love Jesus. Praise Jesus Christ!"
"As long as we are directing people to our Lord and Savior, how can we fail?" he asked.
Brand visited the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C. last week, calling it "more than a museum — it is an immersive and elucidating experience. In many ways, it felt as if I was partaking in a visceral encounter with God."
The Museum of the Bible is more than a museum - it is an immersive and elucidating experience. In many ways, it felt as if I was partaking in a visceral encounter with God. pic.twitter.com/IoiaRm9oCs
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) September 30, 2024
Earlier in September, Brand knelt on the floor following an hour-long conversation with Tucker Carlson in Phoenix, Arizona, and praying against the "dark and demonic forces" in government and corporate America.
"I call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our heavenly Savior," Brand prayed. "Lord, I humbly [ask] in this great congregation in Phoenix, Arizona, with my host, Tucker Carlson, in deference to him, but in ultimate deference to you, our Lord and Savior, to whom we are all your younger siblings and your children."
In April, Brand was baptized as he had spent the past year considering the Christian faith.
"I've been a Christian a month now, and it's been a big change," the actor said in a TikTok video in May. "Not that I've entirely changed as a person. Of course, I haven't, but I've taken on a lot of new concepts, and it changes you to accept that it's not like you're in a game show, and by doing really, really good things, you can get redeemed."
Photo Credit: ©X/Russel Brand
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.