Brief
Russell Brand and Dr. Oz joke about hugging Agriculture Secretary at Make America Healthy Again summit
The incident occurred at a Make America Healthy Again summit in Washington, with Brand facing pending sexual‑misconduct charges and Oz serving as CMS administrator.
By Felo News Desk · Published
British comedian Russell Brand and US health official Dr. Mehmet Oz joked about hugging Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins during a panel at a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) summit in Washington, the Independent reported.
What happened
The summit, organized by the nonprofit MAHA Center, featured a panel where Brand took the stage and Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said Brand was "backstage hugging the Secretary of Agriculture [Brooke Rollins]." Brand responded that Rollins had initiated the contact, a comment that drew muted laughter from the audience. The event also included Vice President JD Vance, health activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr., actress Cheryl Hines and former boxer Mike Tyson.
What the reports add
One Independent bulletin noted that Brand clarified Rollins initiated the hug, while the other quoted Oz saying the hug "took MAHA to a whole new level." Both pieces identified Brand’s pending legal issues, citing seven charges in England, including rape and sexual assault, with a trial set for October 12. The second bulletin added that Brand has pleaded not guilty to each charge and that the Metropolitan Police announced the charges in April 2025.
What was said
Oz told the audience, "Russell Brand was backstage hugging the Secretary of Agriculture [Brooke Rollins]," as reported by the Independent. Brand replied, "She initiated that contact, I shall make clear, doctor," also reported by the Independent.
How it came about
The MAHA summit promotes the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda championed by the Trump administration. Earlier Felo coverage linked the summit to broader Trump‑related initiatives, such as the fact‑check of Trump’s claimed acts of kindness and the expected Iran talks, illustrating the administration’s active policy and public‑relations agenda.
Key facts
- Russell Brand and Dr. Mehmet Oz joked about hugging Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at a MAHA summit in Washington. (independent.co.uk)
- Brand faces seven pending charges in England, including rape and sexual assault, with a trial set for October 12. (independent.co.uk)
- Oz is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (independent.co.uk)
Where accounts differ
- Exact wording of Oz's comment: Russell Brand was backstage hugging the Secretary of Agriculture [Brooke Rollins] (independent.co.uk); Russell Brand was backstage hugging the Secretary of Agriculture [Brooke Rollins]" and added "Took MAHA to a whole new level" (independent.co.uk)
