Brian Rose (podcaster)

Brian Rose (born May 1971) is an American-born podcaster based in London. He is the host of London Real, a podcast and YouTube channel he founded in 2011. He was also a candidate in the 2021 London mayoral election.

Brian Rose
Rose in 2015
Personal information
BornMay 1971 (age 50)
San Diego, California, United States
Occupation
  • Podcaster
  • former banker
YouTube information
Channel
LocationLondon, England
Years active2011–present
Subscribers2.03 million[1]
(August 2021)
Total views260 million[1]
(August 2021)
Updated: August 2021

Early life and career

Brian Rose was born in San Diego, United States, in May 1971.[2][3] His early career was as a banker in New York City and London.[4] Rose has described how he became addicted to alcohol and then drugs, including a heroin overdose in 2001. He moved to London in 2002 and stopped using drugs, becoming a British citizen in 2007.[5]

Career

In 2011, Rose founded the podcast and YouTube channel London Real.[6] As of 2020, he remains its host and CEO, with the channel having two million subscribers.[4][7] Guest on the show have ranged from Gary Vaynerchuk to Wim Hof.[8]

Rose has also conducted interviews with conspiracy theorist David Icke,[9] one of which where Icke claimed a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and 5G mobile phone networks. The video was later removed from YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify.[10][11] Rose has said about the interview: "I'm proud we broadcast it. We fought against censorship last year because I want people to have these discussions and I want to have them out in the open." But he added, "By no means do I agree with everything he says."[5] Rose has also described the UK government's COVID-19 response as "disproportionate".[12] The Guardian has described Rose as a COVID-19 conspiracy theorist.[13]

Vice reported that Rose's "Business Accelerator" programmes have been criticised by past customers.[8] In 2020, the only active company registered in Rose's name was Longstem Limited. Longstem, at the end of 2018, reported debts of over £374,000.[8]

Politics

In the US, Rose originally voted Democratic and then became a Republican. He did not vote in the previous London mayoral (2016) or general (2019) election.[5]

Rose stood in the 2021 London mayoral election and 2021 London Assembly election for his own London Real Party.[14][4] On 24 January 2021, Rose and six of his staff were fined by police for breaking lockdown rules while filming promotional material for his campaign.[15] He was criticised by rival candidates for hosting a video in which David Icke repeated anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, without being challenged by Rose.[16] He finished seventh with 31,111 votes in the mayoral election, while his party finished 11th on the London-wide list with 18,395 votes.[17]

Personal life

Rose is married to Mariana, originally from Bulgaria. She has a daughter from a previous relationship, and they have two sons.[5]

References
  1. "About London Real". YouTube.
  2. Whitworth, Damian. "Brian Rose, the American who wants to be London mayor" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. "Brian Rose - Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. Lehmann, Steven. "Who are the candidates for the 2021 London Mayoral election?". swlondoner (20 November 2020). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "Brian Rose, the American who wants to be London mayor" by Damian Whitworth, The Times (London), 31 March 2021
  6. "Satanistas biónicos quieren controlarnos con vacunas: detrás de las teorías conspiranoicas". Elconfidencial.com. 12 July 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  7. Kanter, Jake (20 April 2020). "UK's London Live May Have Caused 'Significant Harm' By Airing Interview With Coronavirus Denier David Icke".
  8. "The YouTuber Accused of Using Coronavirus to Scam His Followers". www.vice.com.
  9. "The Clown Prince of Wellness". Office for Science and Society. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  10. Kelion, Leo (7 April 2020). "Coronavirus: YouTube tightens rules after David Icke 5G interview". BBC News. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  11. Sam Shead (6 May 2020). "Spotify removes podcast featuring David Icke, while Apple stalls". Cnbc.com. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. "London Mayor candidate says his campaign bus is 'safest in the country' after getting £200 fine". www.indy100.com. 26 January 2021.
  13. "Among the Covid sceptics: 'We are being manipulated, without a shadow of a doubt'". 8 April 2021.
  14. "London mayoral election campaigns kick off despite lockdown". CityAM. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  15. "Mayor of London candidate Brian Rose fined for lockdown breach". BBC News. 25 January 2021.
  16. "Exclusive: Mayor candidate faces calls to pull out over antisemitic video". 23 April 2021.
  17. "Results 2021". London Elects. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
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