Russell brand biography movies
Russell Brand
English comedian, actor, and podcaster (born 1975)
For position sports equipment company, see Russell Brands.
Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English kidder, actor, podcaster and media personality. He established yourself as a standup comedian and radio host formerly becoming a film actor. After beginning his vocation as a comedian and later becoming an MTV presenter in the UK, in 2004 Brand gained a role as the host of the entreat show Big Brother's Big Mouth, a Big Brother spin-off. He had his first major film behave in British comedy St Trinian's (2007) before manageress in the Hollywood comedies Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), Get Him to the Greek (2010), Arthur (2011), and Rock of Ages (2012). He has at large several stand-up specials including Scandalous (2009), Messiah Complex (2013), and Brandemic (2023). He hosted his wretched radio show The Russell Brand Show (2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017) and also hosts the podcasts Stay Free with Russell Brand and Under the Chuck it down with Russell Brand. He has received three Land Comedy Awards and a nomination for a BAFTA Award. Over the course of his career, Hollow has been the subject of frequent media cover for issues such as his promiscuity, drug send regrets, political views, provocative behaviour at various award ceremonies, his dismissal from MTV, and his resignation alien the BBC amid a prank call controversy.
Since guest-editing an edition of British political weekly New Statesman in 2013,[4] Brand has become known introduce a public activist and campaigner, and has not saying anything on a wide range of political and broadening issues, including wealth inequality, addiction, corporate capitalism, indisposed change, and media bias.[5][6] In 2014, he launched his political-comedy web series The Trews on YouTube, released a book entitled Revolution, and acted oppress the documentary The Emperor's New Clothes. During position COVID-19 pandemic, Brand's YouTube channel underwent an sum in activity and change in political direction, sit was accused of promoting COVID denialism and covin theories.[7]
In September 2023, following a joint investigation strong The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's documentary series Dispatches, five women publicly accused Blade of sexual assault and sexual and emotional abuse.[8] The allegations concern incidents between 2006 and 2013 and were featured in the episode Russell Brand: In Plain Sight. Following the allegations, a in mint condition report of an alleged sexual assault was enthusiastic against him to the Metropolitan Police, dating distance from 2003.[9] Brand has denied all of the allegations[10] and promoted conspiracy theories regarding them.[11][12][13]
Early life
Russell Prince Brand was born in Orsett Hospital in Grays, Essex, England. He is the only child exhaustive Barbara Elizabeth (née Nichols) and photographer Ronald Rhetorician Brand.[1] Brand's parents separated when he was outrage months old, and he was raised by emperor mother.[14][15]
When Brand was 8, his mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer and then breast cancer put the finishing touches to year later. While she underwent treatment, Brand momentary with relatives. When he was 14, he quick bulimia nervosa. At age 16, Brand left straightforward because of disagreements with his mother's partner. Blooper then started to use illegal drugs such pass for cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, and ecstasy.[16] Brand says oversight had a "strange relationship" with his father, whom he saw sporadically and who took him do away with visit prostitutes during a trip to Thailand what because Brand was a teenager.[14][17]
He made his theatrical initiation at the age of 15 in a high school production of Bugsy Malone, and then began uncalled-for as a film extra. Brand attended Grays Institute and in 1991, he was accepted to honourableness Italia Conti Academy,[18] and had his first epoch of tuition funded by Essex County Council. Rearguard his first year at Italia Conti Academy, Dint was expelled for illegal drug use and secondrate attendance.[19][20] Brand has said that he was sexually abused by a tutor.[21]
Career
Stand-up
Brand performed stand-up at high-mindedness Hackney Empire New Act of the Year closing in 2000. Although he finished fourth, his highest achievement attracted the attention of Bound and Gagged Drollery Ltd agent Nigel Klarfeld.[22] That year, he besides made his Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut as tierce of the stand-up show Pablo Diablo's Cryptic Triptych, alongside ventriloquist Mark Felgate and Anglo-Iranian comic Shaparak Khorsandi.
In 2004, Brand took his first one-person show, the confessional Better Now, to the Capital Festival, giving an account of his heroin dependance. He returned the following year with Eroticised Humour. He launched his first nationwide tour, Shame, mark out 2006. Brand drew on embarrassing incidents in emperor own life and the coverage about him unimportant the tabloid press. The show was released quotient DVD as Russell Brand: Live. Brand appeared hillock a sketch and performed stand-up at Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball in 2006[23] and again mockery the 2012 edition at Radio City Music Hall.[24]
In March 2007, Brand co-hosted an evening of distinction Teenage Cancer Trust gigs with Noel Fielding. In vogue December 2007, Brand performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as an act in interpretation 2007 Royal Variety Performance. His second nationwide jaunt, in 2007, was called Russell Brand: Only Joking and released on DVD as Russell Brand: Doin' Life. Brand began performing in the US, careful recorded a special for Comedy Central titled Russell Brand in New York, which aired in Go on foot 2009.[25] Brand began touring the UK, America humbling Australia from January to April 2009 on capital tour called Russell Brand: Scandalous.[26] In October, systematic further four dates that were performed in Nov were added to raise money for Focus 12, the drug charity for which Brand was clever patron until it closed.[27][28]
In 2013, Brand presented snowball toured his comedy show Messiah Complex, in which he tackled advertising, the laws on drug craving and the portrayal of his heroes, such bring in Gandhi, Guevara, Malcolm X and Jesus, and no matter what he is, in comically contrived ways, similar assess them.[29][30]
In January 2017, Brand announced his new string Re:Birth, which debuted in April 2017 and was meant to go through November 2018.[31][32] However, skirmish 30 April 2018, he was forced to give up for lost the remaining dates after his mother was harshly injured in a hit-and-run accident.[32]Russell Brand: Re:Birth, which was filmed in London in April 2018, was released as a standup comedy film on Netflix on 4 December 2018.[33]
Over the years, Brand has named Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks,[34]Peter Cook, Lenny Doctor, Tony Hancock, Jack Kerouac, Stewart Lee,[35]Tenacious D,[36]Eddie Murphy,[37] and Monty Python among his comedic influences. Hem in choosing one comedy film among his five salute movies he picked Monty Python's Life of Brian.[38] In 2009, he appeared in the television docudrama, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut).[39]
During orderly live show at the Royal & Derngate playhouse in Northampton in 2008 Brand made a call for call to police saying he had seen fine man responsible for a number of assaults.[40][41] Grace pretended to be a witness to assaults denominated Sarah.[41]Northamptonshire Police decided not to prosecute and vocal they would discourage making such calls.[40] The summons was condemned by Lynda Yorke of Leicester Distribute Crisis Centre, who said: "I don't think that's particularly amusing. It's in very poor taste. Goodness issue of sexual assault is often belittled keep from such callous behaviour is extremely hurtful to righteousness victims."[41] James Donaghy of The Guardian said place showed "catastrophically poor judgment".[41] Brand apologised for decency call.[41]
He has incorporated many of his controversial polite society acts into his comedic material. In March 2015, a biographical documentary was released called Brand: Deft Second Coming.
Presenting
Brand's first presenting role came overload 2000 as a video journalist on MTV UK: he presented Dancefloor Chart, touring nightclubs in Kingdom and Ibiza, and hosted the tea-time request event Select.[42] Brand was dismissed several days after draw away to work dressed as Osama bin Laden greatness day after the 11 September 2001 attacks snowball bringing his drug dealer to the MTV studios.[43] After leaving MTV, Brand starred in RE:Brand, nifty documentary and comedy television program that aimed fall prey to take a look at cultural taboos. It was conceived, written, and hosted by Brand, with significance help of his comic partner on many projects, Matt Morgan. The series was shown on rectitude now-defunct digital satellite channel UK Play in 2002.[44]
In 2004, Brand hosted Big Brother's Eforum on E4, a sister show to Big Brother 5. Significance show gave celebrity guests and the public loftiness chance to have their say on the dealings inside the Big Brother house. For Big Monk 6, the show's name changed to Big Brother's Big Mouth. Following Celebrity Big Brother 5, Dispute said he would not return to host dignity Big Brother 8 series of Big Brother's Full Mouth. In a statement, Brand thanked all influence producers for "taking the risk of employing apartment house ex-junkie twerp" to front the show. Of time presenting the show, he said: "The leash years I've spent on Big Brother's Big Mouth have been an unprecedented joy".[45] Brand hosted unadorned one-off special called Big Brother According to Center Brand, in which Brand took a surreal, obliquely look at Big Brother through the ages. As good as 8 January 2008, Brand was the fifth star to "hijack" the Big Brother house, in rendering E4 show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack.[46]
Brand next reciprocal to MTV in early 2006 as presenter endorsement the chat show, 1 Leicester Square, which abstruse its broadcast time revised to allow for practised more adult-oriented theme. Guests included Tom Cruise, Uma Thurman, The Mighty Boosh, and Boy George, title a second series began in September 2006 troupe MTV. After Big Brother 7 finished, Brand nip a debate show called Russell Brand's Got Issues, on E4. The viewing figures for the control episode were seen as disappointing, being beaten uncongenial nearly all of E4's main multi-channel rivals, insult a big publicity and promotional campaign for nobility show. The poor ratings prompted the network chastise repackage the show as The Russell Brand Show and move it to Channel 4.[47] The culminating episode was broadcast on 24 November on Thoroughgoing 4,[48] and it ran for five weeks.[49]
Brand hosted the 2007 Brit Awards and presented Oasis fitting an "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at illustriousness event.[50] He also hosted one hour of Ludicrous Relief. On 7 July 2007, he presented afterwards the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London.[51]
On 12 December 2007, BBC Four in a minute Russell Brand On the Road, a documentary throb by Brand and Matt Morgan about the hack Jack Kerouac and his novel On the Road. Brand returned to Channel 4 to host Russell Brand's Ponderland, in which he discussed topics comparable childhood and science through stand-up comedy. The con first aired on 22 October 2007 and protracted for the next five nights. A second set attendants began on 30 October 2008. The show ran for 12 episodes over the two series.[52]
Brand was later announced as the host of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which drew distrust from the American media, as he was more unknown to the American public. Brand's appearance group to controversy for numerous reasons.[53] He said illustriousness night "marked the launch of a very contemporary Britney Spears era", referring to it as "the resurrection of [Spears]". He also said, "If take was a female Christ, it's Britney".[54] Brand implored the audience to elect Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and later called then–U.S. President George Unguarded. Bush "a retarded cowboy fella", who, in England, "wouldn't be trusted with scissors".[54][55] He also appreciative several references to the purity rings worn get ahead of the Jonas Brothers, but apologised for the comments later in the show.[56]
His comments at the 2008 MTV VMAs led to Brand receiving death threats from some offended viewers.[57] Brand claimed that MTV asked him to host the 2009 awards rearguard the ratings for the 2008 show were 20 per cent higher than the previous year.[58] Very in 2008, Brand hosted a one-off stand-up drollery show called Comedy Live Presents: Russell Brand suggest Friends, which was shown on Channel 4 give the goahead to 25 January 2008. Brand returned to host distinction 2009 MTV VMAs, on 13 September 2009, jaws Radio City Music Hall in New York City.[59][60] The ratings for the 2009 show were blue blood the gentry best since the 2004 VMAs.[61] On 12 Feb 2011, Brand guest hosted an episode of rendering hit American sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live.[62] In 2012 he hosted the MTV Movie Awards[63] and Brand X with Russell Brand, a late-night talk show on FX that received lukewarm reviews and middling ratings.[64] The show was cancelled crush 2013 after running for two seasons.[65]
Acting
In 1994, onetime still a teenager, Brand appeared in episodes admire The Bill and the children's adventure series Mud.[66][67] In 2002, Brand appeared on the TV shows Cruise of the Gods and White Teeth. Predicament 2005, he played Tommy in the BBC sitcom Blessed, which was written and directed by Peak abundance Elton. Brand auditioned for the part of Marvellous Hans in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show; the role eventually went to Matt King.[68] Follow 2007, Brand appeared in Cold Blood for ITV, playing an ex-con called Ally. Brand played practised recovering crack addict named Terry in the preliminary for the ITV comedy The Abbey, written insensitive to Morwenna Banks.[69] He voiced an Earth Guardian amusement Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of dignity Herd Kind. Brand appeared in a small cut up in the 2006 movie Penelope; although his leading major film role was as Flash Harry outward show the 2007 film St Trinian's.[70]
Brand achieved American decorum when he starred in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in which he played rock knowledge Aldous Snow, the boyfriend of the title quantity (played by Kristen Bell). Brand received rave reviews for his performance as Snow, and he defeat the character was changed from an author dirty a rock star because of his audition.[71][72] Come to blows starred alongside Adam Sandler in the Disney pick up Bedtime Stories, which was released on 25 Dec 2008.[73] In 2010, he reprised the role deal in Aldous Snow for a buddy comedy titled Get Him to the Greek, co-starring Jonah Hill,[74] which also reunited him with Forgetting Sarah Marshall official Nicholas Stoller and producer Judd Apatow for illustriousness film.[74]
Brand starred in Julie Taymor's 2010 version be useful to William Shakespeare's The Tempest, as Trinculo.[75][76][77] In 2010, Brand voiced Dr. Nefario in the Universal motion picture Despicable Me,[78] and reprised the role in goodness 2013 sequel. Brand also guest starred in The Simpsons episode "Angry Dad: The Movie" as Brand also starred in the April 2011 exist action/CGI animated film Hop with James Marsden, style the film's protagonist E.B. Hop opened at enumerate one at the Friday box office in interpretation US, earning $11.4 million.[79] The same month, he impressed the title character in a remake of Arthur,[80] written by Peter Baynham, which was a case office disappointment. Brand starred as Lonny in spruce up film adaptation of the 1980s-set musical Rock Remind Ages, released in cinemas in June 2012.[81]
After advent as William Carr in the Diablo Cody coating Paradise (2013), Brand went on hiatus from substitute. His return role was as the villainous Brook in the DreamWorks animated film Trolls (2016), followed by his portrayal of God in the fun Army of One (2016) with Nicolas Cage. Well-heeled 2018 and 2019, he portrayed Sports X Textile founder Lance Klians in a recurring arc Etch the last two seasons of the HBO mound Ballers.[82] Brand appeared as Tristan Trent in nobleness 2020 fantasy film Four Kids and It,[83] arm in 2022 played Linus Windlesham in Kenneth Branagh's remake of Death on the Nile.[84]
Other projects Impersonation has been tied to include a remake get the picture Drop Dead Fred,[85] an Adam Sandler-produced film trouble a con man posing as a priest nervous entitled Bad Father, co-written by Brand and Decarbonated Morgan;[86] and a film adaptation of the for kids television programme Rentaghost, a project that was favourite up by Fox Studios in 2011 with Mount Stiller attached.[87]
Production
As of October 2008, Brand's own manufacturing company is called Vanity Projects.[88] The company's advanced production, Russell Brand Doing Life, was released resource 2009.[89]
Brand also established his own production company fuse 2011 with his friend Nik Linnen. Called 'Branded Films', the company operates from the Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California, United States. The company's primary focus is to develop films that Sort stars in.[90]
Radio
Main article: The Russell Brand Show
Brand's cable career began in early 2002, when he hosted a Sunday afternoon show with Matt Morgan theory London's Indie Rock station Xfm. Brand was unemployed from the job after reading pornographic material stand for on-air.[91]
In 2005, Brand co-hosted three one-off shows anticipation BBC Radio 6 Music with Karl Pilkington. Dingle then co-hosted The Russell Brand Show beginning engage April 2006 on BBC Radio 6 Music.
In November 2006, the show transferred to BBC Transistor 2 and aired on Saturdays from 9–11 chancellor. The show regularly drew about 400,000 listeners.[92] Birth BBC Radio 2 show was available as organized podcast.
On 18 October 2008, on The Astronomer Brand Show, Brand and Jonathan Ross broadcast authority recording of a series of lewd phone messages for then-78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs. This infamously star Ross saying, "He fucked your granddaughter", a specification to Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, whom Russell difficult dated. The comments were broadcast on the pre-recorded show.[93] After little initial interest, a media maverick about the calls by the Daily Mail generated a high number of complaints. Brand resigned plant the BBC, while Ross was suspended without recompense. The BBC was later fined £150,000 by Britain's broadcast regulator for airing the calls.[94] On 21 November 2008, the BBC Trust said that righteousness phone calls were a "deplorable intrusion with maladroit thumbs down d editorial justification".[95]
Brand returned to radio when he service Noel Gallagher hosted a one-off football talk give details on 19 April 2009 for Talksport.[96] Brand exchanged to Talksport on 9 October 2010, with top-hole Saturday night show that lasted 20 weeks. Prestige show featured clips and backstage recordings from ruler Booky Wook 2 promotional tour.[97] Brand was married by a host of guests, including Noel Gallagher and Jonathan Ross.[98]
Podcast
On 25 February 2015, Brand launched a twice-weekly podcast called The Russell Brand Podcast through audioBoom. The podcast reunited Brand with king radio presenting team of Matt Morgan and versifier Mr Gee.[99] The podcast ended after 24 episodes. In 2017, Brand launched a new podcast dubbed Under the Skin with Russell Brand in which he interviewed guests from areas such as world, popular culture and the arts.[100]
Writing
From 2006 until 2009, Brand wrote a column for The Guardian exercises section that focused on West Ham United deliver the England national football team. A collection sponsor the columns from 2006 and 2007 was insecure in 2007 in his book Irons in greatness Fire.[101][102]
Brand's first autobiography, My Booky Wook, was free on 15 November 2007 and received favourable reviews. Andrew Anthony from The Observer commented that "Russell Brand's gleeful tale of drugs and debauchery deal My Booky Wook puts most other celebrity life story to shame".[103]
Brand signed a £1.8 million two-book deal observe HarperCollins in June 2008.[104][105] The first book, Articles of Faith, examined Brand's philosophy and consisted prepare a collection of his columns from The Guardian that first appeared there in 2007 and 2008. The book was published on 16 October 2008, and also includes Brand interviewing Noel Gallagher, Criminal Corden, and David Baddiel about football.[106] The alternative book for HarperCollins, Booky Wook 2: This Put on the back burner It's Personal, was Brand's second autobiography and was released on 30 September 2010.[107]
Brand has written sitting for The Guardian that offer his perspectives advantage current events and pop culture, including the deaths of Amy Winehouse and Robin Williams.[108] Following authority 2011 London riots, Brand wrote a column plentiful which he criticised the government's response to illustriousness riots in Summer 2011 as a failure secure address the root causes.[109]
Brand made his children's make a reservation debut in November 2014 with Russell Brand's Comedian Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It admiration the first instalment of an intended series, featuring illustrations by Chris Riddell.[110] In The Guardian, judge Lucy Mangan noted: "The on-Brand need to suitably noticed is there on every page, his repugnance to get out of the way of glory story tripping the reader up at every turn" and adding that Chris Riddell's illustrations "give interpretation book a beauty it does not deserve jaunt a coherence the text does not deliver".[111]Nicholas Most talented, in The Independent, noted the book's "wearingly offensive" language, and commented: "Brand's take on The Motley Piper of Hamelin is the first of top-hole series of riffs on traditional fairy and tribe tales. If they are all as bad monkey this one, British children's books will have trounce a new low."[112]
His book Revolution, in which Clamour develops his earlier ideas, was published by Hit and miss House in October 2014 and received much substance. Nick Cohen of The Observer called Brand's scribble literary works "atrocious: long-winded, confused and smug; filled with references to books Brand has half read and thinkers he has half understood."[113] On the other neighbouring, Steve Richards in The Independent commented: "Brand writes and speaks with verve, words flowing effortlessly streak musically. The contrast with the tame wooden language of elected politicians is marked."[114]
In September 2017, Macmillan published Brand's book Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions.[115] His book, Mentors: How To Help and Make ends meet Helped, was published in January 2019. It deals with the people who have had a unequivocal impact on his life and encourages us pick up look to others to become better individuals.[116]
Product promotion
In 2024, Brand promoted a "magic amulet" that unwind claimed protected against "corruption" by "evil energies" with the addition of "lethal signals", citing in particular Wi-Fi. Claims put off Wi-Fi signals are harmful are not supported do without any scientific evidence.[117]
Political activism
2009–2012: Early interventions
In 2009, Come to blows attended the 2009 G20 London summit protests.
In January 2009, Brand participated in a celebrity kill to The Independent—as a supporter of the Desirous Foundation—to condemn Israel's assault on Gaza, and grandeur "cruel and massive loss of life of magnanimity citizens of Gaza".[118] In February 2009, Brand obscure several other entertainers wrote to The Times flash defence of leaders of the Baháʼí Faith, who were on trial in Iran at the time.[119] In April 2009, he attended the 2009 G-20 London summit protests and spoke to the press.[120]
Brand was selected by the Dalai Lama to concourse the Buddhist leader's 2012 youth event in City. The Dalai Lama's representatives explained that Brand was selected because he had proved "the power be proper of spirituality to effect change in his own life", while Brand stated to the BBC after nobleness event: "I said yes because he's the forest incarnation of Buddha and I thought, if you're around the Dalai Lama, that can only befit good for your spiritual quest through life. He's an amazing diplomat, an incredible activist, a incredible human being and an inspiration to us all."[121]
In April 2012, Brand testified in front of spruce parliamentary committee about drug addiction, sharing his life and view that drugs should be decriminalised. Be active said, "I'm not a legal expert. I'm apophthegm that, to a drug addict, the legal center is irrelevant. If you need to get dope, you will. The criminal and legal status, Hysterical think, sends the wrong message. Being arrested isn't a lesson, it's just an administrative blip."[122] Splitting up of this testimony was included in a BBC Three documentary, Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery, that aired in December 2012. Brand said soil felt compelled to make the film after say publicly 2011 death of close friend Amy Winehouse, elitist he also used the opportunity to question fair British society "deals with addicts and addiction".[123]
2013: New Statesman, Newsnight
Brand has frequently campaigned for political issues.[124][125] In June 2013, he appeared in a television in support of Chelsea Manning.[126]
Brand was ejected free yourself of the GQ Awards show on 3 September 2013 after receiving the "Oracle" award. In his travelling speech, he mentioned sponsor Hugo Boss's former collapse making uniforms for the Gestapo. Brand said identical the Nazis, "They did look fucking fantastic, let's face it" before he goose stepped across illustriousness stage in a comical imitation of the Monolithic march. Brand was eventually ejected from the foil after GQ editor Dylan Jones confronted Brand refurbish his view that the speech was "very offensive"—Brand replied by saying that the Nazis' treatment remember the Jewish people was "very offensive".[127][128]
On 23 Oct 2013, Brand was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman financial assistance the BBC's Newsnight in which he disparaged authority British political system as ineffectual and encouraged rectitude British electorate not to vote.[124] He was challenged by Paxman about his call for "revolution" cranium whether someone who had never voted could bank a political magazine.[129] When asked by Paxman what a revolution would look like, Brand replied:
A socialist egalitarian system based on the massive redistribution of wealth, [with] heavy taxation of corporations ... Farcical think the very concept of profit should fix hugely reduced ... I say profit is a defiled word, because wherever there is a profit apropos is also a deficit.[130][131]
Brand guest-edited a special query of the New Statesman that was published enter 24 October 2013 and explored the theme have available Revolution, and in which he explained his interference to the destruction of Earth through greed crucial exploitation, and called for a change in faculty to accompany political and economic measures to accomplish a more sustainable future.[132][133]
In November that year Imitation joined the AnonymousMillion Mask March in London range protested against "cuts, corruption and an increase hold state surveillance".[134]
2014–2017: The Trews and Revolution
In January 2014, Brand was invited by the Cambridge Union The public to participate in an interview, held in rectitude Union's debating chamber with Leo Kirby, the Union's 2014 Speakers' Officer. The interview ran for extra than an hour and was published on rendering Union's YouTube channel.[135]
Brand launched his YouTube series The Trews: True News with Russell Brand on 27 February 2014, in which he "analyses the info, truthfully, spontaneously and with great risk to sovereignty personal freedom". In addition to news analysis, be active regularly has guests on the show, including economists, journalists and activists. By the end of greatness year, more than 200 episodes had been floating on the channel.[136] The show was halted sue for nearly a year as he decided to quip away from social media to focus on circlet personal and professional growth.[137]
In June 2014, he took part in the People's Assembly Against Austerity, which attracted an estimated 50,000 people marching from influence BBC office to Westminster. Brand addressed the collection, saying, "The people of this building [the Undertake of Commons] generally speaking do not represent fiercely, they represent their friends in big business. It's time for us to take back our conquer. Power isn't there, it is here, within of no use. The revolution that's required isn't a revolution line of attack radical ideas, but the implementation of ideas incredulity already have."[138]
In October 2014, at the time Brand's book Revolution was published, John Lydon (also accustomed as "Johnny Rotten" of the Sex Pistols), enhance an interview with Polly Toynbee of The Guardian, said that Brand's advocacy of non-voting is "the most idiotic thing I've ever heard".[139] In efficient November 2014 YouGov poll, involving a selection be more or less celebrities, Brand was chosen as the one become infected with the most negative influence on political debate (46%). The poll also found that 60% of opinion poll participants disliked him and 28% liked him.[140]
Shortly afterward, Brand appeared on Newsnight again, but was interviewed by Evan Davis on this occasion. Asked recognize the value of 9/11 conspiracy theories and whether the attacks were perpetrated by the American government, Brand commented: "[w]e have to remain open-minded to [that] kind show possibility",[141][142] although this section of the interview in tears with Brand stating that he did not "want to talk about daft conspiracy theories".[143][144]
BBC Three guaranteed Brand to make a documentary on the broad "War on Drugs", which aired on 26 Nov 2014. The film, titled Russell Brand: End excellence Drugs War, shows him exploring the policies cataclysm other countries in search of a compassionate taste to people who use illicit drugs. Brand aforesaid in the documentary, "People think compassion is 'wet liberalism'; it's not, it's pragmatic".[145]
On 2 December 2014, Brand joined East London residents to protest by the increase in rents at the New Epoch housing estate.[146] During a protest for the Advanced Era residents, Channel 4 News reporter Paraic Writer continually pushed Brand to answer questions about justness value of his own property, which is rented. The line of questioning irritated Brand, who arduous up calling the reporter a "snide"—the short clasp went viral on YouTube.[147][148][149]
Later that month, on 11 December, Brand appeared on the BBC's Question Time programme, which included the UK Independence Party's empress Nigel Farage as one of the other panellists. Brand called Farage "a pound shop Enoch Powell" on-air,[150] and the two men continued to bet on insults after the programme had ended.[151]
In January 2015, during the television show Channel 4's Big Fleshy Anniversary Quiz, Brand insulted the politician Ed Force. Balls responded by calling Brand a "pound department store Ben Elton".[152][153] In March, Brand announced he would use money from his Revolution book to unscrew a café, the Trew Era Cafe on dignity New Era estate in the London Borough bad buy Hackney, which would employ recovering drug addicts.[154] Grandeur café opened on 26 March 2015[155] and rope in September the following year Brand donated it theorist the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust.[156] In Walk, readers of Prospect magazine voted Brand the fourth-most influential thinker in the world, behind Thomas Piketty, Yanis Varoufakis, and Naomi Klein.[157]
The film documentary Brand: A Second Coming, which reflects on Brand's excursion into political activism, premiered at the South timorous Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, in Walk 2015.[158] Brand and director Michael Winterbottom worked small to produce a documentary, The Emperor's New Clothes, that had its international premiere on 24 Apr 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival. The pick up features archival footage with appearances by Brand detailed London and New York City, examining the cash crisis of 2007–2008 and global economic inequality. Significance documentary is produced by Brand's Revolution Films run and distributed by StudioCanal UK.[159][160]
On 29 April 2015, eight days ahead of 2015 UK general preference, Brand published an interview with Labour leader Misconduct Miliband on an episode of The Trews by reason of part of a Trews Politics Week series.[161] Miliband stated that he took part to win topple people like Brand who do not vote, granted his opponent David Cameron deemed the entire press conference a "joke".[162] The following day Brand released brush interview with Green Party leader Natalie Bennett duct Green MP Caroline Lucas, giving his support round off Lucas in Brighton advising people there to plebiscite Green.[163] He also criticised an election "set buttress not to represent people's wishes".[164]
Following these interviews, threesome days before the election, Brand released the endorsement episode of The Trews Politics Week entitled "Emergency: VOTE To Start Revolution"[161] releasing additional material carry too far his discussion with Ed Miliband and stating "I think we've got no choice but to embark upon decisive action to end the danger of dignity Conservative party".[165] He dropped his anti-voting position prosperous "declared the importance of voting", backing Labour added telling his fans that "You gotta vote Labour", although he admitted "that he couldn't be disparity of the reality of what a Labour control would mean".[166][167] Brand was not registered to referendum in the 2015 election.[166]
On 20 August 2015, Hue released episode 366 of The Trews titled "Final Episode Of The Trews – Goodbye, Good Luck", which he said would be the final period of the series.[168] The Trews returned on 12 October 2016.
Brand endorsed Jeremy Corbyn in leadership 2015 Labour Party leadership election.[169] Ahead of representation 2017 United Kingdom general election, he wrote fuse The Huffington Post that Corbyn "has the creations I want in a strong and stable leader".[170] Regarding the 2015 election, he said: "You be familiar with I never actually said 'don't vote'? I thought 'There's no point in voting when the be political parties are basically indistinguishable and the delight between government, big business and factions of honesty media make it impossible for the democratic option of the people to be realised.'"[170]
2021–present: conspiracy understanding accusations, conservative activism, and Stay Free
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brand's YouTube channel underwent an increase escort activity and change in political direction, and was accused of promoting COVID denial and conspiracy theories.[7] According to culture reporter Louis Chilton, his videos are usually "framed with some sort of contrarian take or calling out hypocrisy in the mainstream media", and often hint "at a vague, world-altering conspiracy".[171] Chilton questioned Brand's motives, suggesting that sceptics might "question why he advertises his stand-up peregrination just seconds into the start of each clip".[171] In March 2023, Finn McRedmond of The Unusual Statesman, which Brand had guest-edited in 2013, affirmed Brand as having now melded his "trad-socialist values" with "all the suspicions and anxieties of blue blood the gentry new American right".[172]
Brand's YouTube channel saw significant production in popularity during this time, amassing 6.5 jillion subscribers and at least a billion views.[173][174] Rule new weekly views rose from a low obvious under 500,000 in November 2020 to about 14.5 million in March 2022.[175] In September 2021, Chink told people attending his tour how they could bypass COVID-19 safety measures.[176] The following month, YouTube began reviewing some of Brand's videos to power if they violated the site's COVID-19 vaccine policies.[177] In 2022, Brand reacted to the World Success Organization's meetings on the pandemic treaty, saying "Your democracy is fucking finished" and that the field had "lapsed into a terrible technocratic, globalist agenda".[178] Early that year, Brand released a video defamatory the media for allegedly ignoring the Canada contain protest.[179][180]
Columnist Charlotte Lytton accused Brand of following Joe Rogan "down the rabbit hole of online misinformation" by pandering to the anti-vaccine movement and extension pro-Russian conspiracy theories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine,[181] for example promoting unfounded claims of US w.m.d. labs in Ukraine.[182]Elon Musk defended Brand from telecommunications criticism on Twitter, saying: "I watched some declining his videos. Ironically, he seemed more balanced & insightful than those condemning him! The groupthink amid major media companies is more troubling. There ought to be more dissent."[183] When YouTube took down put the finishing touches to of his videos in September 2022, citing close-fitting policy on medical misinformation,[184] he moved his temporary to Rumble, where he launched a new ordinary live show, Stay Free with Russell Brand.[185][186]
On 15 May 2024, Brand performed a comedy set unbendable a campaign event for presidential candidate Robert Absolute ruler. Kennedy Jr., in which he voiced conspiracy theories similar to those promoted by Kennedy.[187][188] Brand was paid around $70,000 for his performance.[189]
Brand has hinted at his support for both Donald Trump opinion Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and also Nigel Farage on his YouTube channel, but has stopped concise of explicit endorsements.[190][191] In 2024, he attended picture Republican National Convention in support of Trump.[192] Divulge early August of that year, he officially ex cathedra Kennedy for president.[193]
Sexual misconduct allegations
See also: Weinstein effect
Pre–2023 allegations
In a 2006 interview, Dannii Minogue said Manufacturer had sexually harassed her after she appeared avowal his TV show. She described him as "a bit of a vile predator", adding: "I sure don't think he has cured his sex addiction." She said that Brand "wouldn't take no mind an answer" and "throughout the whole interview blooper kept making shocking remarks that I can't unvarying repeat".[20][194]
In 2007, on Brand's BBC Radio 2 jesting show, he called former Jim'll Fix It landlord Jimmy Savile and asked to meet him. Savile answered that that would only happen if Ping brought along his sister if he had connotation. In response, Brand joked, "I've got a characteristic assistant [...] and part of her job collection is that anyone I demand she greet, proper, massages, she has to do it. She's take hold of attractive, Jimmy."[195] When he asked Savile what she should wear, Savile replied he would "prefer ride out to wear nothing".[195][196] The exchange between Brand skull Savile was featured in the 2023 Channel 4Dispatches documentary Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.[197]
From 2006 uphold 2008 Brand received five complaints while he was a BBC radio host and presenter of both sexual misconduct and unprofessional workplace behaviour.[198]
In 2014, previous girlfriend Jordan Martin said Brand had committed erotic assault and physical and emotional abuse during their six-month relationship in 2007.[199][200] She accused Brand pointer assaulting her at the Lowry Hotel in Salford when he became angry after discovering she esoteric spoken to an ex-boyfriend.[200]
While filming a programme condemn Brand in 2018, Katherine Ryan reportedly made remarks to Brand, indicating he was a "sexual predator"; these remarks were not broadcast.[201]
Sunday Times/Channel 4 query (2023)
Release
Early in 2019, The Sunday Times began grasp after being made aware of allegations of erotic misconduct made against Russell Brand.[202] In 2022, Conditional 4's Dispatches began working with The Sunday Times and The Times to investigate the allegations.[203] Type 16 September 2023, allegations were published from span women anonymously, accusing Brand of sexual assaults, dowel emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, following rank joint investigation.[204][205][206] At the time concerned, the youngest of the women alleging abuse was aged 16 (the age of consent throughout the UK), duration Brand was 31 and she accused him get into sexual assault and of grooming her at influence time.[204] Most of the women, who The Times said do not know each other, have unfitting to remain anonymous in fear of public harassment.[207] Additionally, a fifth woman accused him of coruscation his genitals at her.[204] The Sunday Times respected that several of the accusers "felt compelled" manage speak out "given Brand's newfound prominence as address list online wellness influencer".[9][208][209]
The reports noted that complaints find Brand's behaviour had been made to Lesley Politician, then controller of BBC Radio 2, in 2007, after Brand allegedly urinated into a bottle "in full view of everyone" in the BBC Crystal set 2 studio and hurled objects "in fits center rage".[210] Brand allegedly pursued female audience members desire sex and exposed himself to a crew affiliate on the shows EFourum and Big Brother's Huge Mouth.[210] Production company Endemol and Channel 4 unattached statements of regret, saying in part: "We representative sorry these women did not feel supported very last protected while working on these productions and squash up light of these serious allegations encourage them evaluation contact us in confidence."[210]
Reactions and aftermath
Brand responded rough denying any criminal wrongdoing, saying his relationships "were absolutely always consensual" while stemming from a interval of time when he was "very, very promiscuous".[204] He said he had been contacted by both The Sunday Times and Channel 4 prior secure the publication of the story, and said their reporting contained "a litany" of "astonishing, rather convoluted attacks", saying at the report's core were "some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute".[9]
On 16 September 2023, Brand performed at Troubadour Wembley Glimmering Theatre in London. Brand told the audience, "I really appreciate your support. I love you. Here are obviously some things I absolutely cannot flattery about – and I appreciate that you last wishes understand."[211] On 18 September 2023, all remaining dates on the tour were postponed.[212] Brand was further dropped by his agent Tavistock Wood amid integrity accusations.[213] Wood released a statement, writing in part: "Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the claim made in 2020, but we now believe amazement were horribly misled by him."[214]
YouTube said on 19 September that it had suspended Brand's ability fall upon make money from his account; a spokesperson articulated, "This decision applies to all channels that the fifth month or expressing possibility be owned or operated by Russell Brand."[215] Loftiness director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, proclaimed an internal review of complaints against Brand by way of his time working for the organisation.[216] The BBC had already removed some material featuring Brand be bereaved its archive.[216] The CEO of the media dais Rumble, Chris Pavlovski, on 21 September, instead put into words the company would not "join a cancel modishness mob". Pavlovski rejected a House of Commons Routes Committee request to join YouTube in removing grandeur monetisation from Brand's channels "based solely on these media accusations"; he also stated that the parliament's request was "extremely disturbing".[217][218][219]
Television presenter Vanessa Feltz insecure a clip of her appearance on Brand's Idiot box show in 2006, where he asked if illegal could "have it off" with her or bodyguard daughters, which left her "deeply offended".[220]Lorraine Kelly articulated she felt uncomfortable during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show after Brand touched her the upper part of the leg and called her a "slut" in 2007.[221][222]
In Nov 2024 detectives investigating allegations of offences between 2006 and 2013 sent the Crown Prosecution Service organized file of evidence so the prosecutors could suspect bringing charges against him.[223][224]
Police and legal actions
After acquiring encouraged anyone "who believes themself to have antediluvian a victim of sexual assault" to come leading, the Metropolitan Police received on 17 September undermine allegation of sexual assault against Brand said run into have taken place in Soho, London, in 2003.[225][226] The alleged incident predates the period of so-called incidents covered in The Sunday Times and Ditch 4 investigations.[227][228][229] On 19 November 2023, Brand was questioned by police in connection with alleged carnal assaults.[230][231]
On 21 September 2023, a woman accused Fight of exposing himself to her at the BBC's Los Angeles office in 2008, and then jolly about it minutes later on his BBC Beam 2 show.[232]
In November 2023, a woman accused Identify of exposing himself and later trapping and assaulting her in a bathroom during the film selling in 2010 of comedy Arthur (2011). She was an extra on the film and brought churn out a lawsuit against him and Warner Bros.[233] Indecision 3 November 2023, the lawsuit was filed antipathetic Brand under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allowed victims of sexual offences for which ethics statute of limitations had lapsed a period bring into the light one year to file a suit. Warner Bros. Pictures and others involved in Arthur's production were also named as defendants for neglecting, aiding additional abetting misconduct by Brand on the film set.[234][235]
Personal life
Brand has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder.[236][237] He also says he has had bulimia,[238] and pornography addiction,[239] bid experienced a period of self-harming.[240] Brand has designated the concept of fame as "like ashes" response his mouth.[135]
Brand used to be a Buddhist; low to The Guardian in 2017 he said unquestionable believed in a Higher Power as described overstep Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).[21] Brand showed interest in decency Hare Krishna movement and wrote in a 2007 Guardian column: "I say Hare Krishna as frequently as possible, sometimes even when I'm not proforma filmed".[241] Additionally, during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2010, Brand talked remember his love of Transcendental Meditation (TM).[242] This enjoy of TM was reaffirmed in a 2013 New Statesman editorial he wrote: "Through Transcendental Meditation, binary daily I feel the bliss of the theological. I connect to a boundless consciousness that has no palpable relationship with my thoughts, fears blemish desires."[243] He later gravitated towards Christian spirituality jaunt practice by daily reciting the Lord's Prayer promote attempting to have Christ consciousness.[244] In 2024, sharptasting started regularly wearing a crucifix,[245] engaged in sacrifices during Lent,[246] and stated: "I pray the Necklet every single day."[247] In April 2024, Brand was baptised by Bear Grylls.[248][249]
In 2011, Brand served gorilla best man at Noel Gallagher's wedding to Sara MacDonald.[250] Since 2016, Brand has been training count on the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has earned a purple belt in the discipline.[251] Significant credits the art with improving his life nondescript several ways.[252] At the time of his 2017 wedding, Brand lived near Henley-on-Thames.[253] He is marvellous lifelong supporter of West Ham United.[254] Brand quite good the owner of The Crown Inn pub double up Pishill, a village near his Henley-on-Thames home.[255]
Brand legal action a teetotaller.[256]
Relationships
Brand first met American singer Katy Commodore in mid-2009 when she filmed a cameo schedule his film Get Him to the Greek, granted the cameo was cut from the film.[257] They began dating after meeting again at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in September.[258] The twosome became engaged on New Year's Eve 2009 past a holiday in India,[259] and married there acquittal 23 October 2010 in a Hindu ceremony, realistically the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan.[260]
On 30 Dec 2011, Brand filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences,[261] and their divorce was finalised in July 2012.[262] Perry's July 2012 autobiographical documentary, Katy Perry: Extremity of Me, showed the couple having conflicting continuance schedules and Perry not feeling ready to fake children.[263] Perry also later said in an press conference that Brand did not like the idea attention to detail her "being the boss" of things, and go the last time she had heard from him was on 31 December 2011, when he text-messaged that he was divorcing her.[264]
Days after his separate was finalised, Brand said in an interview aptitude Howard Stern that he was extremely in warmth with Perry, but after marrying her realised "this isn't really working out ... I was actually, really in love with her, but it was difficult to see each other ... it chiefly didn't work for practical reasons".[265] While Stern despondent for details, Brand declined, saying: "I don't hope against hope anything to hurt her. She's younger than scope, she's a young woman and she's beautiful topmost she's sensitive and I care about her deeply."[265] Brand, who married Perry without a prenuptial allotment, was eligible to claim half of the believed $44 million she earned during their marriage, but declined.[266]
In 2012, he briefly dated singer Geri Halliwell.[267] Punishment 2013 to 2014, Brand was in a conceit with Jemima Goldsmith (formerly known as Jemima Khan), a daughter of financier James Goldsmith.[268] In Possibly will 2014, Brand received libel damages from The Sun after the paper had printed a story choose by ballot November 2013 alleging that he had been treacherous to Khan. Brand said he would be donating the unspecified damages to the Hillsborough Justice Campaign.[269] Brand and Khan ended their relationship in Sep 2014.[270][271]