Russell Brand, the controversial British comedian and activist, appears to be distancing himself further from his homeland following a series of significant life changes. Months after relocating to Florida with his family, Brand’s addiction and mental health charity, the Stay Free Foundation, has officially closed its doors. The Charity Commission confirmed that the organization, which was run by Brand and his wife Laura, ceased operations in September 2023, with the closure being formalized in January 2024. The foundation, established in 2022, aimed to provide grants to organizations helping individuals with addiction and mental health issues. Its final financial report showed an income of £126,130, with £52,353 distributed in grants, leaving £73,777 in the bank. The Charity Commission noted that the organization was required to confirm that all its assets were distributed in line with its charitable objectives before winding up.
The closure of the Stay Free Foundation may symbolize Brand’s complete severance of ties with the UK. In 2023, he moved from his riverside home in Henley to a beach community in Florida, where he now produces content for the alt-right platform Rumble. In a recent video, Brand expressed his reasons for leaving the UK, stating, “I don’t live in the United Kingdom anymore because I personally have experienced how the media, government, and judiciary, if you suddenly become an inconvenience, will find ways to attack and shut you down.” This departure comes amid ongoing scrutiny following allegations of rape and sexual assault, which surfaced in 2023. While the Charity Commission investigated the Stay Free Foundation, it did not impose any sanctions. Police also investigated the abuse claims, which Brand denies, but no charges have been brought.
The Stay Free Foundation’s demise also raises questions about the future of its flagship event, the “Community” festival. Held in July 2023 in Hay on Wye, the three-day event featured yoga sessions, breathwork exercises, and addresses by Brand himself. Tickets for the 2024 festival, which was rescheduled to July 2025, are still being sold, with the most expensive tickets (£210) remaining available. However, the event’s website does not clarify its location, and the festival’s Instagram page has not been updated since September 2023. Some attendees have expressed confusion and frustration, with one writing, “Is 2025 actually happening? No information or update since last year’s cancellation. Can we get a refund on the tickets bought for the 2024 event?” Another commenter speculated that the festival might have been abandoned following Brand’s shift toward evangelical Christianity and right-wing U.S. politics.
On a different note, pop icon Kylie Minogue is set to dazzle audiences in a new Netflix whodunnit titled The Residence, a fun and intriguing murder mystery set in the White House. Produced by Shondaland, the team behind Bridgerton, the film will feature Minogue playing herself in a story about a presidential aide’s murder. Joining her is fellow Australian actor Julian McMahon, who was briefly married to Minogue’s sister Dannii. McMahon will portray Stephen Roos, the Australian prime minister—a fitting role, given that his father, Sir William McMahon, served as Australia’s prime minister from 1971 to 1972. The film, which promises to be a lighthearted and entertaining slice of fun, will stream on Netflix from March 20.
Actress Ella Hunt, best known for her role in Cold Feet, has been making waves in Hollywood with her versatility and talent for accents. The 26-year-old recently stunned at the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles, wearing a metallic Fendi dress that weighed a staggering 70 pounds—so heavy that it left her with a back injury. Hunt is currently gaining attention for her role as comedian Gilda Radner in the film Saturday Night, which explores the challenging birth of the legendary American comedy show Saturday Night Live. To prepare for the role, Hunt donned a curly wig and mastered Radner’s distinctive accent, showcasing her remarkable ability to transform into her characters. She has also appeared in Kevin Costner’s epic western saga Horizon: An American Saga, with a sequel set to release soon. Despite her rising star, Hunt remains close to her Cold Feet co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, with whom she partied at the Baftas last year.
In other entertainment news, ITV has sparked controversy with its new four-part drama series, The Lady, which tells the story of Jane Andrews, a former dresser for the Duchess of York who was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her boyfriend in 2000. Andrews, now 57, was released from prison in 2015. While director Lee Haven Jones insists the series will neither apologize for nor sympathize with Andrews’ actions, the family of her victim, Thomas Cressman, has expressed distress over the production, calling it a cruel attempt to profit from their brother’s death. The drama, produced by Left Bank Pictures (the same team behind The Crown), is expected to announce its lead actress soon. Meanwhile, actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, currently starring in the new series of Unforgotten, has revealed that he is often mistaken for an EastEnders star, despite never appearing on the show. He shared amusing anecdotes of fans approaching him to discuss his nonexistent role in the soap opera, highlighting the challenges of fame and mistaken identity.
Finally, the upcoming season of The White Lotus is set to push boundaries with its explicit content, including full-frontal nudity from actor Jason Isaacs. Isaacs, who stars in the social satire alongside Patrick Schwarzenegger and Sam Nivola, joked about his nude scene, saying, “I didn’t know that I was naked in the thing. I don’t really remember that day at all. The truth is, the nudity wasn’t Mike (White Lotus creator Mike White). It’s in my contract. I insist on it in every show.” Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger, also shared his awkward experiences watching the show with his family, admitting that some episodes might require him to take “bathroom breaks” during family viewing sessions. Arnold Schwarzenegger, ever the proud father, even playfully commented on his son’s nude scene, saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
