Russell Brand endured an awkward nearly two-minute search on live television for a Bible passage he had previously drawn comfort from in court, ultimately giving up and citing a verse he deemed 'good enough.'
Background of the Interview
The former comedian appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored on Friday night as part of his book press tour ahead of his trial for serious criminal offenses. Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault, all of which he denies. Earlier in the week, he appeared on Megyn Kelly's podcast, where he admitted to an 'exploitative' past sexual relationship with a 16-year-old when he was 30.
Brand, now a born-again Christian, has stated he would face prison 'with God' if found guilty. He brought the same Bible to the TV studio that he carried to his Southwark Crown Court appearance in February. His new book, How to Become a Christian in 7 Days, was recently released.
The On-Air Moment
When host Piers Morgan asked about Brand's Bible, the actor and presenter initially seemed hesitant. 'Yes, if you want to,' Brand replied. Morgan inquired about the passages Brand had been looking at in court. 'Thank you for asking me,' Brand responded, flipping through the pages. Morgan quipped, 'Thank you, that didn't hurt, did it?' 'A little bit,' Brand, wearing a large wooden crucifix, replied.
Brand appeared to find a verse from Isaiah but quickly realized it was not the one he wanted. He continued searching, muttering, 'Man, I didn't mark it before.' After several attempts, including starting to read a verse only to stop, he finally admitted, 'I can't actually find the verse that I had that day. But this is good enough, this is from Isaiah 12.'
Morgan chose not to fill the silences, instead glancing directly into the camera. Viewers compared the moment to satire, with one describing it as 'something you'd watch from an episode of The Office.' Another commented, 'Did he just assume nobody would ever ask his favourite verse or why he's carrying it around?'
Court Appearance and Charges
When asked how he felt entering court in February to plead not guilty to the two most recent sexual offense charges, Brand replied to Sky News, 'Blessed.' He was seen carrying a blue Holy Bible with Post-it notes, which appeared to remain in place for his Uncensored appearance. A trial is scheduled at Southwark Crown Court on June 16, 2026.
The investigation into Brand began in September 2023 after multiple allegations were reported. A joint investigation by Channel 4's Dispatches and The Sunday Times detailed alleged offenses between the late 1990s and early 2000s. Brand has consistently denied all allegations of non-consensual activity, stating, 'When I was young and single... I was a fool, man... But I was never a rapist... I have never engaged in non-consensual activity.'
Specific Allegations
According to court proceedings, one allegation involves a claim that Brand raped a woman in a hotel room while she attended a Labour Party conference in Bournemouth. Other allegations include assaulting women in workplace settings, including a TV studio and a radio station. Detective Chief Inspector Tariq Farooqi, leading the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, said women who have come forward are being supported by specially trained officers. 'The Met's investigation remains ongoing,' he stated, urging anyone affected or with information to come forward.
