Brian Rose (podcaster)

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]

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]

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.[4]

Rose stood in the 2021 London mayoral election and 2021 London Assembly election for his own London Real Party.[15][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.[16] He was criticised in the election for his hosting of David Icke on London Real.[17] 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.[18]

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