Nigel Farage joined a July 2024 episode of Russell Brand's podcast alongside Dan Bongino and Charlie Kirk to debate cancel culture and the war in Ukraine. A spokesperson subsequently stated that Farage regrets taking part in the show and directed sympathy toward the victims, with party sources claiming he was pulled into the room without prior planning. Despite previously attacking the Labour Party for past links to the entertainer, Farage has faced repeated questioning over his own conduct, including a 2024 podcast appearance where he praised charged influencer Andrew Tate.
Key points
Reform sources characterized the podcast appearance as an unplanned event that occurred w…: Reform sources characterized the podcast appearance as an unplanned event that occurred while Farage was visiting the United States.
The politician publicly backed accusations from Jemima Goldsmith and commended the judici…: The politician publicly backed accusations from Jemima Goldsmith and commended the judicial system while attacking Labour for historic links to Brand.
Farage has previously defended engaging with controversial figures like Andrew Tate to co…: Farage has previously defended engaging with controversial figures like Andrew Tate to connect with young audiences disaffected by mainstream institutions.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Nigel Farage appeared on Russell Brand’s US podcast nine months after the comedian was investigated by police over allegations of sexual assault, the Guardian has learned.
The Reform UK leader has criticised Labour for “cosying up to” and “promoting” Brand a decade ago, after the comedian was sentenced this week to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.
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.
During the episode, Farage laughed with Brand about their shared interests in 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”.
Farage was aware of the serious sexual assault allegations against Brand at the time because he had commented on them on GB News the previous year, but they were not mentioned in the episode.
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The international incident concluded after foreign authorities chose to issue a formal admonition instead of taking further legal action. American officials notably offered minimal cooperation throughout the multi-month travel restriction, leaving local investigators with limited support. Official records remain silent on the underlying circumstances that originally prompted the intervention against the traveler.