Russell Brand claims to have baptised people in the waters of a penguin pool at a Christian zoo in Florida.
The comedian revealed last year that he had become a Christian after he was baptised in the River Thames by Bear Grylls, the adventurer.
Bear Grylls, centre, hugging Brand and a third unknown man after Brand’s baptism in the River Thames
Brand is due to stand trial next year after pleading not guilty to two charges of rape, two charges of sexual assault and one charge of indecent assault at Southwark crown court in May. The allegations relate to four women.
Brand was granted conditional bail after the court hearing. Judge Tony Baumgartner said that a trial of four to five weeks would take place from June 3 next year.
He shared a video of the baptism on his social media accounts on Sunday with the caption: “A baptism at the zoo,” accompanied with an emoji of a penguin.
“Right now, we’re gonna [sic] baptise someone here at the zoo in a penguin pool,” he said in the video before asking the audience to “give it up” for a man who is about to “give his life to the lord”.
He did not reveal the location of the zoo, but an image comparison showed that it is Emerald Coast Zoo in Florida, which describes itself as a “Christian-focused” park with a “focused on God, working for the enjoyment of His people and the happiness of His animals in our care”.
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Brand visited the park on at least two occasions in September and October, according to the zoo’s social media, including to “lead a prayer” as part of its Halloween events.
In the video, Brand conducted the “baptism” on two men: one was fully submerged in the penguin pool; the other had his head dipped in the water.
Standing in wet trousers, Brand added: “If you baptise someone in a zoo, then you have to walk around the zoo soaking wet, not just in regular water but in penguin water… This is an unusual day even in my unusual life.”
Responses to his post on social media were mixed. One person described it as “deeply moving”, while another said it was a “mockery”.
A third person asked: “I wonder what nasty bugs, bacteria and viruses was in that water?” Another asked Brand: “You a priest now?”