Brian Rose (podcaster)

Summary

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

Brian Rose
Rose in 2022.
BornMay 1971 (age 52)
San Diego, California, United States
Occupations
  • Podcaster
  • former banker
Websitelondonreal.tv

Early life and career edit

Rose was born in San Diego, United States, in May 1971.[1][2] His early career was as a banker in New York City and London.[3] 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.[4]

Career edit

 
Rose (left) interviewing J. Christopher Giancarlo in March 2022

In 2011, Rose founded the podcast and YouTube channel London Real.[5][6] As of 2020, he was its host and CEO, with the channel having two million subscribers.[3][7] Guests on the show have included Gary Vaynerchuk and Wim Hof.[8] His most popular video was with Mantak Chia where they discuss sexual exercises for men.[5]

Rose has also conducted interviews with conspiracy theorist David Icke,[9] in one of which Icke falsely 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... By no means do I agree with everything he says."[4] While interviewing Icke, Rose said, "I personally don't believe the Coronavirus was created by a third party. I do think it occurred naturally. I do believe in the science and I do believe in vaccines".[12] Rose has, however, described the UK government's COVID-19 response as "disproportionate".[13]

Along with London Real, Rose set up an academy offering courses on public speaking, business, and motivation.[5] 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.[8]

YouTube closed the London Real channel in September 2023.[14] Rose declared himself as a candidate for Mayor of London for the 2024 election.[15]

Politics edit

In the US, Rose originally voted Democratic and then became a Republican. He did not vote in the London mayoral (2016) or general (2019) elections in the UK.[4] Rose stood in the 2021 London mayoral election and 2021 London Assembly election for his own London Real Party.[16][3]

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.[17] He was criticised in the election for his hosting of David Icke on London Real.[18] 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.[19]

Personal life edit

Rose is married to Mariana, originally from Bulgaria. She has a daughter from a previous relationship, and they have two sons.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Whitworth, Damian (11 July 2023). "Brian Rose, the American who wants to be London mayor" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Brian Rose - Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Lehmann, Steven. "Who are the candidates for the 2021 London Mayoral election?". swlondoner. No. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Brian Rose, the American who wants to be London mayor" by Damian Whitworth, The Times (London), 31 March 2021
  5. ^ a b c Whitworth, Damian (11 July 2023). "Brian Rose, the American who wants to be London mayor" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  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. ^ a b c "The YouTuber Accused of Using Coronavirus to Scam His Followers". www.vice.com. 21 May 2020.
  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 Real: Covid-19" (PDF). Ofcom.
  13. ^ "London Mayor candidate says his campaign bus is 'safest in the country' after getting £200 fine". www.indy100.com. 26 January 2021.
  14. ^ "YouTube". Youtube. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  15. ^ Rufo, Yasmin. "The candidates vying to be the next London mayor". BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  16. ^ "London mayoral election campaigns kick off despite lockdown". CityAM. 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Mayor of London candidate Brian Rose fined for lockdown breach". BBC News. 25 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Exclusive: Mayor candidate faces calls to pull out over antisemitic video". 23 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Results 2021". London Elects. 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.