A spokesperson for Nigel Farage said he regrets appearing on Russell Brand’s US podcast nine months after police began investigating the comedian over sexual assault allegations, following Brand’s sentencing this week to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.
The Reform UK leader was a guest on Brand's online show in July 2024, months after the allegations were made public in a joint Sunday Times, Times and Channel 4 exposé in September 2023, but before he was charged in April 2025.
Farage has criticised Labour for 'cosying up to' and 'promoting' Brand a decade ago after the comedian's conviction this week. However, it has now emerged that Farage himself appeared on Brand's show after the investigation began.
During the episode, Farage laughed with Brand about taking on ‘the establishment’ and suggested the West had provoked Vladimir Putin into the Ukraine war because ‘what you don't do with a Russian bear is deliberately poke it with a stick’. The two appeared alongside Dan Bongino, a Donald Trump supporter, and Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist later murdered.
Farage had previously commented on the allegations against Brand on GB News in September 2023. At the time, he said he was not a big fan of Brand but would not prejudge him, remarking that Brand had upset 'big government' and powerful men such as Bill Gates, an apparent reference to Brand's anti-vaccine views. Farage added: 'I'm not here to prejudge his guilt or his innocence, but there are many other things in his own autobiography that he's written about his behaviour with women that are disturbing, abusive and not very pretty.'
A spokesperson for 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 said the appearance was not planned and he was pulled into the room during a visit to the US.
Since the verdict, Farage has commented on the allegations against Brand on Australia's News 24, saying: 'It's very difficult isn't it, because this is two decades old, it's "he said, she said", although there's more than one she. So these cases are always very difficult for us to judge at a distance because there is no actual hard evidence.' He also came out in support of Jemima Goldsmith, a former partner of Brand who has accused him of assault, saying the judicial system had 'proved to have actually worked'.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Farage's appearance on Brand's podcast after the investigation had begun raises questions about political judgment and consistency, given his subsequent criticism of Labour for associating with Brand.
- It highlights broader issues of how politicians interact with controversial figures, particularly those facing serious criminal allegations.
- The case underscores the ongoing public debate about sexual assault, due process, and political accountability.
Background
The comedian Russell Brand was sentenced this week to 10½ years in prison for raping a fan and sexually assaulting three television and radio workers. The allegations became public in September 2023 in a joint investigation. A number of women accused Brand of sexual assault, and he was interviewed under caution by police that autumn. Brand was charged in April 2025. Farage and Brand had famously clashed as panelists on BBC's Question Time in 2014.
Key Perspectives
Nigel Farage (via spokesperson): Regrets appearing on the show and his thoughts are with the victims.
Reform UK sources: The appearance was not planned; Farage was pulled into the room during a US visit.
Nigel Farage (September 2023, GB News): Was not a big fan of Brand but would not prejudge him; said there was 'no evidence being produced' and the autobiography described 'disturbing, abusive' behaviour.
Nigel Farage (post-verdict, News 24): Called the case 'very difficult' because it was 'he said, she said' with 'no actual hard evidence', but said the judicial system had worked and believed Jemima Goldsmith's account.
What to Watch
- Whether further scrutiny of Farage's past associations with figures accused of sexual misconduct, such as Andrew Tate, emerges.
- Potential fallout within Reform UK and among voters regarding Farage's judgment.
- Any further public statements from Farage clarifying his position on Brand or other controversial figures.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA spokesperson for Nigel Farage said he regrets appearing on Russell Brand’s show.UK news | The Guardian: “Asked about his appearance with Brand, a spokesperson for 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.””
- SupportedFarage was a guest on Brand’s show months after the sexual assault allegations became public.UK news | The Guardian: “It has now emerged that Farage was a guest on Brand’s online show in July 2024 – months after the sexual assault allegations were made public, but before he was charged in April 2025.”
- SupportedPolice began investigating Brand nine months before Farage appeared on his podcast.The Independent UK: “Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was a guest on Russell Brand ’s US podcast nine months after police began investigating the comedian over allegations of sexual assault.”
- SupportedBrand was sentenced that week to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.UK news | The Guardian: “after the comedian was sentenced this week to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.”
- SupportedThe allegations were made public in a joint Sunday Times, Times and Channel 4 exposé in September 2023.UK news | The Guardian: “A number of women accused Brand of sexual assault in a joint Sunday Times, Times and Channel 4 exposé in September 2023”
- SupportedFarage appeared on Brand’s online show in July 2024, before Brand was charged in April 2025.UK news | The Guardian: “Farage was a guest on Brand’s online show in July 2024 – months after the sexual assault allegations were made public, but before he was charged in April 2025.”
- SupportedOn the podcast, Farage suggested the West had provoked Putin into the Ukraine war and said, “what you don’t do with a Russian bear is deliberately poke it with a stick”.UK news | The Guardian: “suggested the west had provoked Vladimir Putin into the Ukraine war because “what you don’t do with a Russian bear is deliberately poke it with a stick”.”
- SupportedFarage appeared on the show alongside Dan Bongino and Charlie Kirk, described as a Donald Trump supporter and a right-wing activist later murdered, respectively.UK news | The Guardian: “Sitting on a sofa together, alongside Dan Bongino, a Donald Trump supporter, and Charlie Kirk, the rightwing activist later murdered”
- SupportedIn September 2023, Farage said he was not a big fan of Brand but would not prejudge him, and remarked that Brand had upset big government and powerful men such as Bill Gates.UK news | The Guardian: “On GB News in September 2023, Farage said he was not a big fan of Brand but would not prejudge him and remarked on the comedian having “upset big government” and powerful men such as Bill Gates”
- SupportedFarage said, “I'm not here to prejudge his guilt or his innocence, but there are many other things in his own autobiography that he's written about his behaviour with women that are disturbing, abusive and not very pretty.”UK news | The Guardian: “He added: “I’m not here to prejudge his guilt or his innocence, but there are many other things in his own autobiography that he’s written about his behaviour with women that are disturbing, abusive and not very pretty.””
- SupportedReform sources said Farage’s appearance was unplanned and he was pulled into the room during a US visit.UK news | The Guardian: “Reform sources said it was not a planned appearance, and he was pulled into the room during a visit to the US.”
- SupportedSince the verdict, Farage made the quoted remarks about judging the cases at a distance on Australia’s News 24.UK news | The Guardian: “Since the verdict, Farage has commented on the allegations against Brand on Australia’s News 24, saying: “It’s very difficult isn’t it, because this is two decades old, it’s ‘he said, she said’, although there’s more than one she. So these cases are always very difficult for us to judge at a distance because there is no actual hard evidence.””