Meet Bear Grylls, the survivalist who just baptised Russell Brand: the ex soldier is known for his extreme shows with celebs like Bradley Cooper and Natalie Portman – but has been called ‘fake’
TV survivalist Bear Grylls has confirmed to the British press that he helped baptise disgraced comedian Russell Brand in the River Thames last month.
“Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal,” Grylls told the Daily Mail. “But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above”.
Meanwhile, Brand himself said in a video that the experience had been transformative. “The ceremony itself was incredible. I want to thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself.”
The news comes months after a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary revealed allegations of sexual assault against the Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor, notes The Independent. According to Sky News, Brand has not been arrested or charged. He told Tucker Carlson in an interview shared in January on YouTube that it was “hurtful” to be accused of “what I consider to be the most appalling crimes”.
Brand has some loyal friends who have stayed by his side through thick and thin. Here’s what we know about one of them, Bear Grylls:
Why is Bear Grylls so famous?
The 49-year-old British TV personality whose real name is Edward Michael Grylls, is most famous for his extreme adventure television shows, including the Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated Man vs. Wild, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, and Netflix’s interactive series You vs. Wild, per his website.
Did Bear Grylls serve in the SAS?
Yes. Grylls has made it widely known that he used to serve as a soldier in the British Special Forces, as part of 21 SAS Regiment, as stated on his website. According to the source, he broke his back in three places from a free-fall parachuting accident, but didn’t let it deter him from getting back into extreme sports, as he later became one of the youngest climbers to reach the top of Mount Everest.
Does Bear Grylls have a wife and kids?
Grylls has been married to his wife Shara Cannings Knight since 2000. Per his website, they have three sons: Jesse, Marmaduke and Huckleberry, and enjoy a secluded life on a private island off the Welsh coast.
Why was Bear Grylls called out for being “fake”?
Over the years, Grylls has been called out for being a “phoney” who has not fully represented the things he does on TV accurately. According to Looper, the accusations have included “borrowing” tame horses for a scene in the wild, spending a night at a luxury resort rather than his outdoor shelter shown on TV, and misrepresenting survival techniques, to name a few. Still, TV is TV, and for production purposes it’s likely that some things are just a little safer and more practical than others!
- Grylls confirmed that he helped baptise Brand in the River Thames last month, saying: ‘It is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above’
- He’s no stranger to handling celebs thanks to his show, Running Wild with Bear Grylls, that’s featured everyone from Simu Liu and Florence Pugh to Cara Delevingne and Channing Tatum over the years