The world is waking up today to a viral claim that actor Russell Brand is dead. By all accounts, however the Get Him to the Greek actor is still very much alive.
Here’s what happened.
I can't believe this is how I found out Russell Brand is dead https://t.co/1u3p6uueX6
— Jackson Clarke (@zealotonpc) March 10, 2026
The former co-deputy director of the FBI, Dan Bongino, who is now back on the air, having returned to his media career and restarting his podcast, The Dan Bongino Show, in February, tweeted a pair of pictures on X (formerly Twitter) to his 7.4 million followers.
In the images, Brand can be seen sitting crisscross applesauce on a sofa, speaking on a panel with right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality Charlie Kirk, as well as an image of Bongino wearing an FBI jacket and speaking with a member of the FBI Evidence Response Team.
“There won’t be another. One of the saddest days of my life. He was just different. And everyone who knew him, knew it. May God rest your soul,” Bongino wrote in the caption.
Bongino‘s post went up at 4:33 p.m. yesterday, March 10. A few hours later, at 7:41 p.m., JacksonClarke, an X user with 39,000 followers whose bio says he is the co-founder of Bad Egg Publishing and the producer/owner of The Official Network, responded with the following.
“I can’t believe this is how I found out Russell Brand is dead,” Clarke wrote, retweeting Bongino’s post.
“Wait… what? Is Russell Brand actually dead??” one user asked.
“@grok Is this news authentic?” another wrote.
“Damn RIPRussell Brand poor guy just couldn’t bear watching his ex wife fall in love with the son of Fidel Castro,” yet another wrote.
Per USA Today, there are no reports of Brand falling ill or being hospitalized. There are no reports that Brand is dead. The claim has been debunked. Bongino was referring to the death of Turning Point USA founder in his tweet and not Brand.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, at Utah ValleyUniversity in Orem, Utah. He was shot and killed while speaking at an event, CNN reported at the time.
Meanwhile, Brand is facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits.
On Feb. 24, the Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges at the Southwark Crown Court in London. Per the BBC, two women are claiming Brand, 50, committed the alleged crimes in 2009.
Last May, Brand pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault, two counts of rape, and another two for sexual assault, which alledgely happened between 1999 and 2005, and involve four women.
Neither Bongino nor Clarke has since posted responses to clear up any confusion.
🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
Related: Did Cher Secretly Tie the Knot? Her New Ring on ‘That’ Finger Is Fueling Wedding Buzz
