Russell Brand’s Jesus complex has finally gone too far
The comedian is known for constantly reinventing his image, from leather-clad rockstar to hippie YouTube guru, writes Katie Edwards. But does Brand’s baptism in the Thames mean he’s truly a changed man, or is it nothing more than a cynical PR stunt?
No one, it seems, finds Jesus in a more dramatic or public way than famous blokes who are trying to bounce back from allegations of sexual misconduct.
From Harvey Weinstein to Bill Cosby, Brett Kavanaugh to Donald Trump, they – or their press teams – have attempted to liken their “trials” to the Passion of Christ – noble men, wrongly accused, publicly pilloried, humiliated and sacrificed.
Yes, it’s narcissistic and distasteful – perhaps even downright offensive to some – but it seems to be a successful PR move. It’s certainly a familiar tactic. Jesus analogies are the done thing for high-profile men accused of sexual violence: transformed from sexual predator to innocent, suffering victim, like water into wine.
The latest in this long line of Jesus wannabes is Russell Brand, who was accused of sexual assault in a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary last year – allegations which the comedian denies. Brand recently took to social media to inform his followers that he had been baptised in the River Thames and that the experience has left him “changed” and “transitioned”.
Now, Brand’s a bit different – he’s always fancied himself a touch messianic. In his memoir, the comedian tells us about his upset when his mum didn’t believe he was the Messiah. But, it seems, he’s never stopped trying to convince the rest of us.
Reinvention has always been a key part of Russell Brand’s public persona. Do you remember when he first started out on Channel 4’s Big Brother’s Big Mouth? When he was all tamed hair and preppy style? This was before his transformation into the carefully curated nonchalant rock-star comedian look that he’s best known for – before he developed his trademark mass of backcombed hair. Brand’s gone yoga teacher for the latest stage of his evolution. Hair in a ponytail, loose clothes, with not a hint of the former “sex insect” in sight.
But throughout his shifts in style, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed: his penchant for a bit of Christ imagery.
Brand’s long been likened to Jesus. In 2011, artist Robert Burns depicted the comedian with a crown of thorns, inspired by the Michelangelo classic. He followed up with another portrait in 2019, saying: “I saw his photo in a newspaper and he was the spitting image of Christ… so I lifted it. In my second painting, he looks so biblical… he has this stare and his hands clasped.” But it’s hardly a coincidence that Brand seems to be a dead ringer for the messiah.
The resemblance certainly wasn’t there at the very start of his career but as he morphed into his best-known lothario rocker image, he seemed to make sure no one could miss the Jesus references.
During his 2013 tour, aptly titled Messiah Complex, images of religious and political icons formed the backdrop of Brand’s set. At one point, he stands in front of a giant projection of Jesus and quips: “I’m a little bit like Jesus.”
A little bit, yes, in that they both have long hair and a beard…
Brand is sending himself up, of course. But, like much of his humour, along with the self-knowing nods to his narcissism, there’s also a sense that he wants us to believe the schtick – and if we don’t get the references, then he helpfully points them out for us.
Take his tattoos, for example. He has 33 of them because, he says, Jesus was 33 when he died, and he thought he’d die at the same age.
In 2015, Brand was the subject of a documentary, titled Brand: The Second Coming – an irreverent wink and nod to both his oversexed reputation and his self-created resemblance to Jesus.
Since Brand’s Hollywood career declined, he’s gone extra messianic. Have a look at his profile picture on X/Twitter. There he is, just like Robert Burns describes, looking all biblical with his stare and clasped hands… and a gilded, halo-like crown.
In the immediate wake of the rape and abuse allegations, Brand told viewers of his online channel that the accusations were part of a “coordinated media attack”. Of course, it’s all a conspiracy! In case we’ve ever thought otherwise, that other freedom fighter and bastion of honour, Andrew Tate, turned up in the comments to offer sympathy and solidarity as he goes through his own suffering for being just too damn honest.
Just as Brand once styled himself as a rock-star comedian in his tight leather trousers and studied scruffiness, he’s now presenting himself as a political rebel, an enemy of the state whose threat must be neutralised. Brand is no longer a comedian who makes jokes at the expense of women, he’s a truth-teller to the masses – no matter what the cost. He’s willing to sacrifice himself so that we know freedom. What a guy.
The resurrection arc might be too much to swallow for some but not, it seems, for Brand’s fans, who imagine it’s possible for a celeb whose once glittering career went into freefall and ended up spouting conspiracy theories on YouTube to be such a powerful threat to the authorities that his influence must be undermined.
Now, Brand’s been baptised. He’s spoken truth to power, and he’s been punished for it. But he’s embraced the suffering of his public trial – and is now experiencing rebirth as a Christian. Brand is dead, long live Brand.
The cynics among you might wonder why he publicised this “intimate and personal” experience across his social media channels. In the words of Monty Python: “He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy.”