Nigel Farage has been criticised for appearing on Russell Brand’s podcast two years ago, after the sexual allegations against the comedian had been made public.
The Guardian reported that the Reform UK leader was a guest on Brand’s show in July 2024, alongside pro-Donald Trump supporter Dan Bongino and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered the following year.
Sexual assault allegations came out against Brand in September 2023. The disgraced comic was then charged in April 2025 and sentenced this week to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.
Farage laughed along with Brand during the podcast episode as they discussed their interest in taking on the “establishment”.
They also suggested the west had provoked Russian dictator Vladimir Putin into the Ukraine war.
While the allegations against Brand were not mentioned during the recording, Farage was aware of them, having alluded to them on GB News in 2023.
He claimed in 2023 there was “no evidence being produced” against Brand and referred to four or five women having come forward.
Farage also told GB News: “I’m not here to prejudge his guilt or his innocence, but there are many other things in his own autobiography that he’s written about his behaviour with women that are disturbing, abusive and not very pretty.”
A spokesperson for Farage said today: “Nigel regrets his appearance on the show. His thoughts are with the victims who have suffered immensely because of what Russell Brand has done.”
HuffPost UK understands this was not a pre-planned appearance.
A Reform source also claimed Farage was “pulled into the room during a visit to America”.
The revelation comes after the Reform UK leader recently accused Labour of “cosying up” and “promoting” Brand a decade ago.
Then-Labour leader Ed Miliband, who now sits as the foreign secretary, appeared on Brand’s YouTube channel in 2015 to talk about politics.
Miliband expressed his regret about that appearance this week, telling Channel 4 News: “What Russell Brand did was horrifying. It was horrifying, and all of my sympathies are with the victims of Russell Brand.
“And of course, there are further allegations about him as well as the crimes he’s been convicted of.
“If I had known then what has come to light, I would, as I’ve said before, never have done that interview. And as I’ve also said before, I deeply regret doing it.”
Reform’s deputy Richard Tice also claimed Labour’s “hypocrisy over vetting knows no bounds” after it emerged Brand was a party member.
Tice’s own party has been heavily criticised for not vetting its candidates for parliament or councillors thoroughly enough.
Social media users were quick to condemn Farage, calling the Clacton MP a “prize hypocrite”.
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