In a social media post that has drawn mixed reactions, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor shared photos of himself training with Russell Brand just days before Brand appeared in a London court facing serious charges.
The instructor posted images from a training session in Savannah, Georgia, captioning it:
“Day 2 session 1 in the books. No Gi in the afternoon. A big family growing. Good times, good people, good training.”
The post, which tagged Brand among several martial arts academies, has garnered both support and criticism from the combat sports community. While some followers responded positively with comments like
“Very cool!”
and
“Absolutely awesome!!!”
others expressed concern about the association.
Critics left pointed comments referencing Brand’s ongoing legal situation. One user wrote,
“Just because he has a gi on your gonna nuthug a suspect,”
while another commented,
“This didn’t age very well.”
Brand, 49, recently appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London where he faces two counts of r*pe, two counts of s*xual assault, and one count of indecent assault. According to prosecutors, the alleged offenses occurred between 1999 and 2005 in London and Bournemouth.
During his court appearance on May 2, Brand was granted conditional bail and ordered to appear at Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) on May 30. He currently resides in Florida but must attend all future court appearances and keep the court informed of his whereabouts.
The charges follow a September 2023 joint investigation by Channel 4 and the Sunday Times. When the allegations first surfaced, Brand denied them, and after being charged last month, he posted a video stating he welcomed the opportunity to prove his innocence.
“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the lord,” Brand said in the video. “I was a dr*g add ict, a s*x addict and an imbecile. But what I never was was a r*pist. I’ve never engaged in non-consensual activity.”
In recent years, Brand has pivoted away from mainstream entertainment to building an online following with content focused on wellness and alternative perspectives. He’s also ventured into alternative health products, recently promoting a $240 amulet called the Lifetune Mini, which claims to protect wearers from WiFi signals and electromagnetic radiation.
The product is manufactured by Aires Tech, a company that recently formed a partnership with UFC. Aires Tech offers hologram-embellished stickers and pendant necklaces priced between $90 and $350, with promotional support from UFC flyweight Maycee Barber.
Despite the serious nature of the charges Brand faces, some supporters continue to stand by him. One commenter on the BJJ instructor’s post wrote,
“Glad to see Russell smiling. Everybody knows that’s a [false] indictment!”
while another simply stated,
“Russell’s a good guy.”
Brand’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 30, where he is expected to enter a plea regarding the charges against him.
