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Russell Brand, a well-known British actor and comedian, has been charged with several sexual offenses, including rape. These charges have led to the Hallow prayer app cutting its ties with Brand. Alex Jones, CEO and co-founder of Hallow, confirmed to OSV News, “We are no longer advertising on Russell’s show.”
The charges against Brand, announced by the Metropolitan Police Service of the United Kingdom on April 4, include two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault. These allegations involve four different women and relate to incidents from 1999, 2001, and 2004-2005. Brand, who has denied the charges, is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.
In April 2024, Brand, who once described himself as living a "decadent, hedonistic, Hollywood lifestyle," was baptized in the River Thames and promoted the Hallow app in a video shared by the company. This promotion evolved into a formal advertising partnership with the prayer app advertising on Brand’s podcast hosted on the Rumble platform. In July 2024, Brand interviewed Bishop Robert E. Barron on his channel, further expanding his religious connections.
Jones had previously indicated that if charges were brought against Brand, Hallow would consider them seriously. "We would obviously take it very seriously. It would be a really important development,” Jones had told The Pillar in November 2024. He also emphasized the importance of balancing forgiveness with prudence to ensure the Church is not perceived as neglecting issues of abuse.
Following the announcement of the charges, Brand posted videos on Instagram denying the allegations and expressing gratitude to his supporters. Brand stated, “What I never was, was a rapist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity.”
Gina Christian, a multimedia reporter for OSV News, noted that the recent trend of celebrities converting to Catholicism can serve as both inspiration and a reminder of the challenges of personal improvement amid fame.
