Nigel Farage appeared on Russell Brand’s US podcast months after sexual assault allegations against the comedian had been made public, it has emerged.
This week, Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months behind bars for rape and sexual assault.
In the wake of Brand’s sentencing, Reform and the Conservatives have been critical of Labour for their association with him in the mid-2010s.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has hit out at Labour for not apologising for “cosying up” to Brand during this period.
But the Guardian now reports that in July 2024, Farage had appeared as a guest on Brand’s online show, several months after a police investigation into sexual assault allegations against the comedian had started.
Farage’s appearance on Brand’s show came after an investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches revealed multiple serious allegations against Brand in September 2023, but before he was charged in April 2025.
Brand was interviewed by police under caution in the autumn of 2023.
According to the Guardian, Farage appeared on the show alongside Trump support Dan Bongino and rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in September 2025.
During the episode, Farage spoke to Brand about their shared interests in taking on the establishment. He also suggested the west had provoked Russia into invading Ukraine because “what you don’t do with a Russian bear is deliberately poke it with a stick”.
The allegations against Brand were not mentioned on the show.
Addressing Farage’s appearance alongside Brand, a spokesperson for the Reform UK leader 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.”