Russell brand

Thursday

Alexander Larman

Russell Brand is everything that is wrong with the world

There are few stranger public careers than that of Russell Brand, the former "comedian" turned MAGA cheerleader-in-chief. He has given an interview to Tucker Carlson, another figure who has been on his own peculiar journey, and has announced his intention of running for Mayor of London in 2028, on a vaguely defined but somehow sinister platform that includes "pragmatic" democracy for "people who live in London, who love London." He is the strutting, peacocking representation of all that is wrong in contemporary society Brand has railed against most of Sadiq Khan’s innovations, asking: "Do you want ULEZ cameras? Do you want congestion charges? Do you want this type of policing where people are arrested for Facebook posts? Do you want us to focus on contemporary rape gangs?

russell brand

Wednesday

Peter Jones

The Russell Brand of ancient Greece

The ‘lifestyle guru’ Russell Brand is now under police investigation and (in desperation?) has taken to hawking magic amulets. Still, it has to be better than his announcement that he had become a Christian. As the Greek satirist Lucian pointed out, such a move did little good for one such would-be ‘celeb’ (Latin celeber, ‘busy, crowded’), Peregrinus. He was born c. ad 95 and, suspected of killing his father, went into exile. In Palestine he linked up with a group of Christians and soon became a figure of some authority, a prophet and church-leader widely admired for his understanding (and invention) of scriptures.

Thursday

Cockburn

Russell Brand lauds magical amulet keeping him safe from WiFi

From our US edition

Comedian-turned-“right-wing Christian influencer" Russell Brand has discovered a new stream of income: hawking enchanted objects. Brand appeared in a recent TikTok ad for Aires Tech, claiming “airports are places full of WiFi and all sorts of evil energies,” and so everyone needs a “magical amulet from Aires Tech” to keep you safe from “all sorts of signals out there.” The amulet, or the “Lifetune Flex,” sells for $239.99 on their website. The gold encasing and green center make it look like something that belongs around Doctor Strange’s neck: very majestic, very wizardly. Criticism, understandably, abounds. “They are gutter-slime,” a video essayist tweeted, grouping Russell Brand with Jordan Peterson.

russell brand amulet

Monday

Juan P. Villasmil

Rescue the Republic didn’t meet expectations

From our US edition

This Sunday, steps away from the Washington Monument, a ragtag group of disgruntled, self-described classical liberals, seed oils disrespecters, public intellectuals and former Democrats assembled for the Rescue the Republic rally.  The event was spearheaded by Dr. Bret Weinstein, a “canceled ” evolutionary biology professor turned podcaster. In the days leading to the event, he imagined it as a civilizational moment — “This will be ‘an event’ in the same way that Woodstock was ‘a music festival.’ I truly believe that.” Sadly for Weinstein, the event fell short of a revolutionary event, with most of the crowd concentrating next to the stage, leaving lots of space in the back.

Republic

Monday

John Mac Ghlionn

Are Barack Obama and Russell Brand in a cult?

From our US edition

What do the likes of Warren Buffett, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Russell Brand have in common? They are all fans of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a pseudoscientific hodgepodge of strange hacks and corny aphorisms supposed to change an individual’s thoughts and behaviors. NLP practitioners claim to have the power to help clients achieve desired outcomes. Comedian Jimmy Carr, currently touring the US, recently spoke about the power of NLP during an interview with podcaster Chris Williamson. Carr has also spoken about the power of NLP on other hugely popular podcasts. Like Buffett, Clinton, Obama and Brand, Carr has achieved unimaginable levels of success. But the idea that NLP can help you reach some higher plane of awakening is not rooted in solid science.

nlp

Wednesday

Charles Moore

In praise of Rupert Murdoch

In March last year, when the bosses of Jesus College, Cambridge, lost their legal battle for a ‘faculty’ to take down the 17th-century memorial of the college’s benefactor, Tobias Rustat, because of slavery connections, from their college chapel, they did not appeal against the verdict of the ecclesiastical court. They knew they would not have won. But, as I mentioned at the time (26 March 2022), the Church of England high-ups, angry at their own heritage law, are not giving up. The latest biannual report of the Archbishops’ Commission for Racial Justice backs attempts to change the church’s faculty jurisdiction rules and promotes the 47 recommendations of From Lament to Action, by the commission’s anti-racism taskforce.

Wednesday

Charles Moore

Why wasn’t Russell Brand cancelled in his prime?

In 2014, Rolf Harris was convicted of sexual offences against girls. I wrote in this space that this would have represented more of a cultural change in the treatment of celebrities if he had been unmasked at the height of his fame. Current stars, I suggested, are much more rarely denounced: ‘I would not dream of suggesting that Russell Brand is a sex criminal, but we know, from his own account, that he has slept with a great many women.’ He had even, on his infamous Radio 2 show, boasted of sleeping with Andrew Sachs’s grand-daughter, yet ‘the BBC broadcast this as comedy’. ‘If the celebrity wheel of fortune ever went against Brand,’ I went on, ‘would it be surprising if some of the women decided to accuse him of “inappropriate” acts?

Rod Liddle

The inequality of sex

As we all shroud ourselves in grief at being unable to watch Russell Brand any more on terrestrial television stations, a few thoughts occur. The first and most obvious is (once again) the presumption of guilt on the part of the entertainment industry, a business entirely devoid of morals and managed largely by coked-up hypocrites. Obviously, for most human beings our repulsion at the immediacy with which Brand has been cancelled by these dreadful people is challenged by our collective detestation of the man himself – yet another of those ‘comedians’ who never ever said anything funny and whose shtick was simply to reflect the zeitgeist of the age by showing off. But still.

Friday

John Sturgis

The unmaking of Russell Brand

Russell Brand’s hero status among a prominent section of the British left began on Friday 13 September 2013 and officially came to an end one week ago. On both occasions the medium was the Guardian. The 2013 moment came when he wrote for the paper giving ‘his side of the story’ after being kicked out of a GQ awards event for making a joke about the Hugo Boss fashion label and its historic links with the Nazis. Just shy of ten years later, the paper’s columnist George Monbiot last week published a mea culpa for having once been an advocate for Brand. He had nominated the comedian as his ‘hero’ of 2014, saying he was ‘the best thing that has happened to the left in years’.

Saturday

Mark Mason

Perfectly serviceable – at points even charming: Four Kids and It reviewed

This film contains flying children, time travel and a sand monster that lives under a beach — yet the most incredible thing of all is that a family get to go on holiday. They actually leave their house, drive down an actual motorway, rent an actual seaside cottage and go for actual walks, passing well within two metres of actual other people! And not once do Derbyshire police film them with a drone, then post intimidating footage of it on the internet. The movie’s producers couldn’t have known they’d be releasing their creation into a locked-down world, but now that they have, who’s to say more people won’t watch it at home than would have watched it at the cinema? We are literally a captive audience.

Monday

Steerpike

Old habits die hard for Russell Brand

Oh dear. Although Russell Brand once said he had never voted, and never would, as a result of his 'absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class', he went on to change his tune when her urged his fans to vote Labour in the 2015 election – and later endorsed Jeremy Corbyn. So, Mr S was curious to discover that Brand has now returned to his old tricks. The comedian-turned-left-wing revolutionary tells the Sunday Times that he didn't vote in the EU referendum as he was on 'holiday': 'How did he vote in the referendum? He mumbles: “I was on holiday.” He didn’t vote over Brexit? “No,” he says sheepishly.

Wednesday

Steerpike

Russell Brand has endorsed Labour again – and the Tories should be worried

Back in the 2015 general election, Owen Jones became the subject of much mockery thanks to a column he wrote suggesting that Tories had reason to worry after Russell Brand endorsed Labour in the election. Given that Brand went on to claimed he had actually 'f--ked up the election' by inviting Ed Miliband to his house, Jones's claim failed to ring true. But is it a case of second time lucky? As the Corbynites get excited today over YouGov analysis that suggests the Tories will lose seats come June 8, Brand has come out and endorsed the Labour leader.

Monday

Steerpike

Russell Brand’s principles prove costly

Spare a thought for Russell Brand. Although the comedian-turned-revolutionary-turned-comedian-again has made clear that 'profit is a filthy word', in recent years this hasn't stopped Brand from making one himself. Last year, Mr S had to break the sad news that the annual accounts for his company Pablo Diablo’s Legitimate Business Firm showed a healthy profit of at least £228,893 — to add to his already hefty £15 million fortune. Thankfully, Steerpike has happier news this time around. The latest accounts for the company show that no profit was made in 2015. With the company sitting on 766,564 in 2014, by 2015 this was reduced to 564,765.

Steerpike

Peter Hitchens proves to be Russell Brand’s Achilles heel

Although Russell Brand has stopped producing his YouTube series The Trews after tiring of being in the spotlight, fans of the comedian-turned-revolutionary can now get their fill in the new documentary Brand: A Second Coming. While the film, which is directed by Ondi Timoner, was originally supported by Brand, he later got cold feet on viewing a first cut. After asking for changes -- and saying that he would try and prevent the film's release -- he went on to distance himself from the project by boycotting the film's premiere. So what was it in the film that caused Brand to perform a U-turn? Well aside from disclosures about his colourful love life, it appears to be none other than Peter Hitchens who gave Brand the biggest headache.

Monday

Steerpike

Corbyn’s latest cheerleader wanted to vote for Russell Brand in general election

With the latest ICM poll putting the Tories on a 17-point lead over Labour, it seems as though Jeremy Corbyn's beleaguered party are in a bit of a jam. But fret not -- they have a plan. Today Momentum have released details of its new initiative 'Concerts for Corbyn'. The plan is to inspire the nation to vote for Labour with music. What's more Paul Weller will play at the first of these concerts. Explaining his decision, the rocker said he agreed to perform as he likes 'what Corbyn says and stands for'. So, is this a sign of the swing voter finally being wooed back by Labour? Alas not. It turns out that Weller actually abstained from voting in the general election -- voicing his disappointment at the time that he wasn't able to vote for...

Wednesday

Steerpike

Is Russell Brand thinking about going to university?

During Russell Brand's brief foray into politics, the comedian struggled to be taken seriously by members of the establishment. On one such occasion, Peter Hitchens hit out at the BBC for inviting the comedian to discuss drugs policy on an episode of Newsnight. The incident irked Brand so much that he later asked for the scene to be omitted from a documentary charting his career. So Mr S is intrigued to learn that Brand may be taking steps to bolster his academic credentials. Word reaches Steerpike that Brand has been spied looking around the School of Oriental and African Studies -- part of the University of London -- which counts Aung San Suu Kyi among its almuni.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Emma Thompson backs the In campaign: ‘Britain is a cake-filled misery-laden grey old island’

David Cameron has been accused of adopting a 'Project Fear' approach as he tries to convince members of the public to remain in the EU. While this tactic has attracted criticism, take heart that the Prime Minister has at least refrained from adopting the Emma Thompson approach of being plain rude. During a press conference for her new film Alone in Berlin, Thompson was asked about the upcoming referendum. At which point the Nanny McPhee actress took a swipe at old Blighty for being a 'cake-filled misery-laden grey old island': 'A tiny little cloud-bolted, rainy corner of sort-of Europe, a cake-filled misery-laden grey old island.' As for the right approach to remaining in the EU?

Thursday

Steerpike

Russell Brand makes a filthy profit (again)

When Russell Brand laid out his vision for a revolution back in 2013, the comedian-turned-revolutonary said that profit was a filthy word. 'David Cameron says profit isn't a dirty word, well I say profit is a filthy word,' he announced to a bemused Jeremy Paxman. So Mr S can't help but feel for the poor soul after reading the latest accounts for his company Pablo Diablo's Legitimate Business Firm. According to the abbreviated accounts, he reports a healthy profit of at least £228,893 -- to add to his already hefty £15 million fortune. Still, given that Brand retired from politics earlier this year after failing to influence the election, perhaps filthy profits are no longer high on the former revolutionary's agenda.

Tuesday

Steerpike

Is Benedict Cumberbatch the new Russell Brand?

With Russell Brand no longer an active revolutionary, having officially retired from politics after failing to make an impact on the general election, there's a vacancy for a new celebrity champion of fashionable political causes. Thankfully Benedict Cumberbatch appears to be doing his best to fit the bill. The Sherlock actor made the news last week after he ranted on-stage about the government's response to the refugee crisis following a performance of Hamlet at the Barbican. According to the Daily Mail, Cumberbatch let it be known that he thought the government's pledge to take 20,000 refugees was not enough, before -- eloquently -- concluding: 'f--- the politicians'.

Monday

Brendan O’Neill

Welcome to the era of conspiracy-theory politics

Who argues that a 'shadow state' controls Britain? That a gang of faraway, faceless suits 'orchestrate public life from the shadows', from their 'yachts in the Mediterranean'? Who thinks people in 'the shadows', who always remain 'hidden', exercise a 'poisonous, secretive influence on public life'? A spotty sixth-former who spends way too much time on the internet, perhaps? Or maybe one of those cranky guys who hangs out in the discussion threads of David Icke's website, convinced that lizards in suits run the world? Actually it's Tom Watson, new deputy leader of the Labour Party.