Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was a guest on Russell Brand’s US podcast months after allegations of sexual assault against the comedian were made public, it has emerged
Nigel Farage was a guest on Russell Brand’s US podcast months after allegations of sexual assault against the comedian were made public, it has emerged.
The Reform UK leader has criticised Labour for “cosying up to” and “promoting” Brand a decade ago, when Ed Miliband appeared on his web show in 2015.
But now it has emerged that Mr Farage himself appeared on Brand’s podcast in 2024, nine months after he was investigated by police over sexual assault claims. Brand was jailed for 10-and-a-half years for rape and sexual assault earlier this week.
During the appearance on Brand’s podcast, Mr Farage laughed with Brand about the shared views on taking on the establishment and spoke of how “the old left-right divides” were being blown out of the water, the Guardian first reported.
Nigel Farage knew of the allegations
He was joined by guests Dan Bongino, a Donald Trump supporter, and Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was later assassinated. At the end of the show, Brand told him: “Nigel, thank you for this impromptu opportunity to speak and I hope we get more chances to speak.”
Mr Farage was aware of the allegations against Brand as he spoke about them on GB News in 2023. On his show with the broadcaster, he said he didn’t want to prejudge the investigation into the comedian, both suggesting there is “no evidence” and that four or five people had spoken against him.
He said: “As for his behaviour with women and other people, well, I don’t know. It’s not for me to judge. There’s no evidence being produced. There are four people, maybe 5 now, that have come out of the woodwork.
“But you see, I understand that through his YouTube channel and much else, he has upset some very powerful people. He’s upset big Government, he’s upset Bill Gates and everybody.”
‘He regrets his appearance on the show’
A spokesman for Mr Farage said: “Nigel regrets his appearance on the show. His thoughts are with the victims who have suffered immensely because of what Russell Brand has done.” Reform sources claimed his appearance on Brand’s podcast was not pre-planned and that Mr Farage was pulled into the room during a visit to America.
On Monday, Brand, 51, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others between 2004 and 2009. He was convicted of the offences during a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Foreign Secretary Mr Miliband this week said he deeply regrets appearing on Brand’s web show during his 2015 leadership campaign. The former Labour leader was interviewed by Brand in a video filmed at the TV personality’s flat for his online series The Trews, in a bid to win over younger voters as he battled to become PM.
Mr Miliband told Channel 4: “What Russell Brand did was horrifying. It was horrifying, and all of my sympathies are with the victims of Russell Brand. And of course, there are further allegations about him as well as the crimes he’s been convicted of. If I had known then what has come to light, I would, as I’ve said before, never have done that interview. And as I’ve also said before, I deeply regret doing it.”
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