Trigger warning: This article contains some discussion of sexual assault.
Yesterday, the internet spread another crazy rumor. This time some users noted the death of the actor and comedian. russell brandAnd many people went along with it. So, why did people believe this death claim? Well, the answer is right here dan bonginoWho posted an oddly chosen image to help remember his late friend, Charlie Kirk. Meanwhile, Russell also came into the picture.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you may have questions. Luckily, I have most of these answers, but none about why Dan chose the image he did. Regardless, the tea behind this new and rather misleading viral internet rumor is what Russell is really up to these days, starting with the comments that quickly poured in after Dan’s disjointed post.
Russell Brand is alive despite rumors of his death
If you’re waking up today and hearing this news, then overall, Russell is still very much alive. But, at first, commenters were still so taken aback by Dan’s post that, before trivia could even enter the chat, their comments combined to make this death-related rumor go viral.
Early commentators were inclined towards an omnipresent environment. “D*mn RIP Russell Brand, poor guy, couldn’t handle watching his ex-wife fall in love with Fidel Castro’s son,” one user commented. Meanwhile, others chose to share an image of Russell while writing words like “RIP” in their posts.
Thankfully, once other users started making noise, we finally saw people on the internet questioning the conclusions they drew. As one user asked, “Wait…what? Is Russell Brand really dead?” Then, another person ran to his aid and started researching, “@grok is this news authentic?”
All the while, Dan never clarified his misleading posts. Meanwhile, his bio on x Says, “Only here for comments.” However, he did reply to a comment. But it focused on Charlie, not Russell.
Dan Bongino posts tribute to Charlie Kirk, but it includes Russell
Dan, a former co-deputy director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation who now hosts a podcast, posted a confusing image in honor of an unidentified man who recently passed away. The comments that followed aren’t entirely the fault of Dan’s followers, as Dan actually used an image that wasn’t very good.
Dan’s post was about Charlie. Yet, in his chosen photo, Russell was front and center. Yes, Charlie was also present. But he was on the edge. So, at first glance, it’s not hard to understand why people thought Dan was talking about Russell.
Of his words, Dan wrote, “There will never be another. One of the saddest days of my life. It was just different. And anyone who knew him knew it. God rest your soul.”
Dan didn’t say who he was talking about. So, between the image and his words, this was clearly a difficult post to understand for many people. But maybe Dan deliberately designed things that way, because now this mess is in vogue.
Some may remember that Charlie was shot and killed last year while speaking at a TPUSA event on the Utah Valley University (UVU) campus.
Russell Brand faces legal issues in UK
All told, Russell is facing the same fate as many others in Britain at this time. According to UK police, Russell faces charges of sexual offenses involving a total of six different women. As claimed in their statements, they were all sexually assaulted by Russell between 1999 and 2005.
Detectives began their investigation against Russell in 2023. As he alleged, a woman was raped in Bournemouth in 1999. Another was assaulted in Westminster, London in 2001. Then, in 2024, a third woman claimed Russell orally raped and sexually assaulted her in Westminster, London, while a fourth woman accused the star of sexually assaulting her sometime between 2004 and 2005 in Westminster, London.
In December 2025, prosecutors added additional charges, including another count of sexual assault along with an additional count of rape, bringing the total number of charges against Russell to six. But last month, while answering all these charges, Russell pleaded not guilty.
Russell’s trial will begin on June 3, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London. This will last for four to five weeks. Before it begins, Russell will also participate in a pre-trial review in May.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available at the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
TELL US – CAN YOU SEE WHY PEOPLE THOUGHT RUSSELL WAS DEAD? Why do you think Dan chose this particular image of Charlie? Thoughts on Russell’s impending court case?