New College of Florida postpones Russell Brand speaking engagement

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SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — New College of Florida postponed a speaking engagement featuring actor Russell Brand due to “changes in event logistics.”

Brand was scheduled to appear April 12 at NCF’s Mildred Sainer Pavilion, where he was slated to be interviewed by Mark Famiglio, the chairman of the Sarasota Film Festival.

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A release sent to media outlets on Wednesday said the college and Brand’s team “have mutually agreed to shift the event to a future date that allows for broader access and public engagement.” It was planned for Brand to speak at the Sarasota Opera House initially, but the venue was unavailable, and the event was moved to the small on-campus theater with no tickets available to the general public, according to NCF.

“At New College, we remain committed to creating spaces for honest and often challenging conversations. Free speech is not a performance—it’s a principle,” NCF Director of Public Policy Events Alexandra Nicole Islas wrote in a statement. “While we continue to support the intention behind this event, we also recognize that timing and context matter. We look forward to welcoming Mr. Brand to campus at a future date under conditions that allow for thoughtful and topical engagement from both the public and our academic community.”

The decision to postpone the event comes after the college on Tuesday affirmed its decision to host Brand, just days following his arrest on charges of rape and sexual assault in the U.K. Islas suggested the conversation with Brand would, in part, address the topic of “cancel culture.”

NCF did not release any details about a future date or location for the event.

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