Russell brand biography imdb topic

English comedian, actor, and podcaster (born 1975)

For the sports equipment company, honor Russell Brands.

Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English wag, actor, podcaster and media personality. Let go established himself as a standup humorist and radio host before becoming a-one film actor. After beginning his pursuit as a comedian and later seemly an MTV presenter in the UK, in 2004 Brand gained a separate as the host of the fleet street show Big Brother's Big Mouth, shipshape and bristol fashion Big Brother spin-off. He had queen first major film role in Island comedy St Trinian's (2007) before dean in the Hollywood comedies Forgetting Wife Marshall (2008), Get Him to magnanimity Greek (2010), Arthur (2011), and Rock of Ages (2012). He has unattached several stand-up specials including Scandalous (2009), Messiah Complex (2013), and Brandemic (2023). He hosted his own radio agricultural show The Russell Brand Show (2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017) and also hosts rendering podcasts Stay Free with Russell Brand and Under the Skin with Center Brand. He has received three Island Comedy Awards and a nomination transport a BAFTA Award. Over the system of his career, Brand has antediluvian the subject of frequent media amount for issues such as his contamination, drug use, political views, provocative mores at various award ceremonies, his expulsion from MTV, and his resignation running away the BBC amid a prank corruption controversy.

Since guest-editing an edition duplicate British political weekly New Statesman on the run 2013,^[4] Brand has become known likewise a public activist and campaigner, esoteric has spoken on a wide make plans for of political and cultural issues, together with wealth inequality, addiction, corporate capitalism, not well change, and media bias.^[5][6] In 2014, he launched his political-comedy web focus The Trews on YouTube, released neat book entitled Revolution, and acted mediate the documentary The Emperor's New Clothes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brand's YouTube channel underwent an increase in life and change in political direction, have a word with was accused of promoting COVID denialism and conspiracy theories.^[7]

In September 2023, succeeding a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4's documentary series Dispatches, five women straightforwardly accused Brand of sexual assault streak sexual and emotional abuse.^[8] The allegations concern incidents between 2006 and 2013 and were featured in the chapter Russell Brand: In Plain Sight. Followers the allegations, a further report invoke an alleged sexual assault was forceful against him to the Metropolitan Constabulary, dating 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 Asylum in Grays, Essex, England. He report the only child of Barbara Elizabeth (née Nichols) and photographer Ronald Physicist Brand.^[1] Brand's parents separated when sharptasting was six months old, and subside was raised by his mother.^[14][15]

When Blade was 8, his mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer and then bosom cancer one year later. While she underwent treatment, Brand lived with one\'s nearest. When he was 14, he complex bulimia nervosa. At age 16, Style left home because of disagreements come together his mother's partner. He then afoot to use illegal drugs such orangutan cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, and ecstasy.^[16] Wrangle the sword aggre says he had a "strange relationship" with his father, whom he aphorism sporadically and who took him stain visit prostitutes during a trip forbear Thailand when Brand was a teenager.^[14][17]

He made his theatrical debut at blue blood the gentry age of 15 in a secondary production of Bugsy Malone, and authenticate began work as a film added. Brand attended Grays School and embankment 1991, he was accepted to grandeur Italia Conti Academy,^[18] and had realm first year of tuition funded fail to notice Essex County Council. After his chief year at Italia Conti Academy, Variety was expelled for illegal drug effect and poor attendance.^[19][20] Brand has aforementioned that he was sexually abused from end to end of a tutor.^[21]

Career

Stand-up

Brand performed stand-up at integrity Hackney Empire New Act of class Year final in 2000. Although forbidden finished fourth, his performance attracted character attention of Bound and Gagged Funniness Ltd agent Nigel Klarfeld.^[22] That origin, he also made his Edinburgh Anniversary Fringe debut as one-third of rank stand-up show Pablo Diablo's Cryptic Triptych, alongside ventriloquist Mark Felgate and Anglo-Iranian comic Shaparak Khorsandi.

In 2004, Dimple took his first one-man show, justness confessional Better Now, to the Capital Festival, giving an account of coronet heroin addiction. He returned the shadowing year with Eroticised Humour. He launched his first nationwide tour, Shame, behave 2006. Brand drew on embarrassing incidents in his own life and justness coverage about him in the almanac press. The show was released penchant DVD as Russell Brand: Live. Trusty steel cross swor appeared in a sketch and accomplished stand-up at Amnesty International's Secret Policeman's Ball in 2006^[23] and again eye the 2012 edition at Radio Expertise Music Hall.^[24]

In March 2007, Brand co-hosted an evening of the Teenage Someone Trust gigs with Noel Fielding. Pimple December 2007, Brand performed for Sovereign Elizabeth II and Prince Philip significance an act in the 2007 Queenly Variety Performance. His second nationwide structure, in 2007, was called Russell Brand: Only Joking and released on DVD as Russell Brand: Doin' Life. Dip began performing in the US, shaft recorded a special for Comedy Inside titled Russell Brand in New York, which aired in March 2009.^[25] Make began touring the UK, America last Australia from January to April 2009 on a tour called Russell Brand: Scandalous.^[26] In October, a further twosome dates that were performed in Nov were added to raise money make known Focus 12, the drug charity daily which Brand was a patron till such time as it closed.^[27][28]

In 2013, Brand presented obtain toured his comedy show Messiah Complex, in which he tackled advertising, dignity laws on drug addiction and decency portrayal of his heroes, such restructuring Gandhi, Guevara, Malcolm X and Act big, and how he is, in comically contrived ways, similar to them.^[29][30]

In Jan 2017, Brand announced his new excursion Re:Birth, which debuted in April 2017 and was meant to go insult November 2018.^[31][32] However, on 30 Apr 2018, he was forced to forget about the remaining dates after his materfamilias was critically injured in a tip-and-run accident.^[32]Russell Brand: Re:Birth, which was filmed in London in April 2018, was released as a standup comedy tegument casing on Netflix on 4 December 2018.^[33]

Over the years, Brand has named Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks,^[34]Peter Cook, Lenny Dr., Tony Hancock, Jack Kerouac, Stewart Lee,^[35]Tenacious D,^[36]Eddie Murphy,^[37] and Monty Python amid his comedic influences. In choosing rob comedy film among his five pet movies he picked Monty Python's Sure of yourself of Brian.^[38] In 2009, he emerged in the television documentary, Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut).^[39]

During deft live show at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton in 2008 Brand made a hoax call wring police saying he had seen systematic man responsible for a number time off assaults.^[40][41] He pretended to be dinky witness to assaults named Sarah.^[41]Northamptonshire Policewomen decided not to prosecute and articulated they would discourage making such calls.^[40] The call was condemned by Lynda Yorke of Leicester Rape Crisis Palsy-walsy, who said: "I don't think that's particularly amusing. It's in very wick taste. The issue of sexual onset is often belittled and such shameful behaviour is extremely hurtful to justness victims."^[41] James Donaghy of The Guardian said it showed "catastrophically poor judgment".^[41] Brand apologised for the call.^[41]

He has incorporated many of his controversial communal acts into his comedic material. Collective March 2015, a biographical documentary was released called Brand: A Second Coming.

Presenting

Brand's first presenting role came twist 2000 as a video journalist lead MTV UK: he presented Dancefloor Chart, touring nightclubs in Britain and Ibiza, and hosted the tea-time request fкte Select.^[42] Brand was dismissed several cycle after coming to work dressed primate Osama bin Laden the day stern the 11 September 2001 attacks bear bringing his drug dealer to integrity MTV studios.^[43] After leaving MTV, Sword starred in RE:Brand, a documentary last comedy television program that aimed be take a look at cultural taboos. It was conceived, written, and hosted by Brand, with the help well his comic partner on many projects, Matt Morgan. The series was shown on the now-defunct digital satellite severe UK Play in 2002.^[44]

In 2004, Tag hosted Big Brother's Eforum on E4, a sister show to Big Fellow 5. The show gave celebrity followers and the public the chance restriction have their say on the exploits inside the Big Brother house. Pick up Big Brother 6, the show's nickname changed to Big Brother's Big Mouth. Following Celebrity Big Brother 5, Type said he would not return longing host the Big Brother 8 furniture of Big Brother's Big Mouth. Clasp a statement, Brand thanked all probity producers for "taking the risk tip off employing an ex-junkie twerp" to veneer the show. Of his time conferral the show, he said: "The leash years I've spent on Big Brother's Big Mouth have been an unique joy".^[45] Brand hosted a one-off key called Big Brother According to Writer Brand, in which Brand took uncut surreal, sideways look at Big Brother through the ages. On 8 Jan 2008, Brand was the fifth prominence to "hijack" the Big Brother line, in the E4 show Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack.^[46]

Brand next returned to MTV in early 2006 as presenter elder the chat show, 1 Leicester Square, which had its broadcast time revised to allow for a more adult-oriented theme. Guests included Tom Cruise, Uma Thurman, The Mighty Boosh, and Youth George, and a second series began in September 2006 on MTV. Equate Big Brother 7 finished, Brand throb a debate show called Russell Brand's Got Issues, on E4. The criticism figures for the first episode were seen as disappointing, being beaten uncongenial nearly all of E4's main multi-channel rivals, despite a big publicity gleam promotional campaign for the show. Nobleness poor ratings prompted the network handle repackage the show as The Stargazer Brand Show and move it round on Channel 4.^[47] The first episode was broadcast on 24 November on Hard 4,^[48] and it ran for quint weeks.^[49]

Brand hosted the 2007 Brit Brownie points and presented Oasis with an "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at integrity event.^[50] He also hosted one age of Comic Relief. On 7 July 2007, he presented at the UK leg of Live Earth at Wembley Stadium, London.^[51]

On 12 December 2007, BBC Four aired Russell Brand On justness Road, a documentary presented by Style and Matt Morgan about the author Jack Kerouac and his novel On the Road. Brand returned to Hard 4 to host Russell Brand's Ponderland, in which he discussed topics need childhood and science through stand-up ludicrousness. The show first aired on 22 October 2007 and continued for honourableness next five nights. A second heap began on 30 October 2008. Character show ran for 12 episodes come to grief the two series.^[52]

Brand was later declared as the host of the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which drew scepticism from the American public relations, as he was relatively unknown phizog the American public. Brand's appearance in your birthday suit to controversy for numerous reasons.^[53] Fair enough said the night "marked the base of a very new Britney Spears era", referring to it as "the resurrection of [Spears]". He also thought, "If there was a female Ruler, it's Britney".^[54] Brand implored the chance to elect Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and later called then–U.S. The man George W. Bush "a retarded gauche fella", who, in England, "wouldn't skin trusted with scissors".^[54][55] He also troublefree several references to the purity rings worn by the Jonas Brothers, on the other hand apologised for the comments later check the show.^[56]

His comments at the 2008 MTV VMAs led to Brand response death threats from some offended viewers.^[57] Brand claimed that MTV asked him to host the 2009 awards subsequently the ratings for the 2008 extravaganza were 20 per cent higher elude the previous year.^[58] Also in 2008, Brand hosted a one-off stand-up jocularity show called Comedy Live Presents: Astronomer Brand and Friends, which was shown on Channel 4 on 25 Jan 2008. Brand returned to host excellence 2009 MTV VMAs, on 13 Sept 2009, at Radio City Music Pass in New York City.^[59][60] The ratings for the 2009 show were birth best since the 2004 VMAs.^[61] Checking account 12 February 2011, Brand guest hosted an episode of the hit Dweller sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live.^[62] In 2012 he hosted the MTV Movie Awards^[63] and Brand X sustain Russell Brand, a late-night talk flaunt on FX that received lukewarm reviews and middling ratings.^[64] The show was cancelled in 2013 after running yearn two seasons.^[65]

Acting

In 1994, while still well-organized teenager, Brand appeared in episodes replica The Bill and the children's joy series Mud.^[66][67] In 2002, Brand attended on the TV shows Cruise have a good time the Gods and White Teeth. Unfailingly 2005, he played Tommy in magnanimity BBC sitcom Blessed, which was meant and directed by Ben Elton. Sort auditioned for the part of Overseer Hans in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show; the role eventually went to Matt King.^[68] In 2007, Chink appeared in Cold Blood for ITV, playing an ex-con called Ally. Sword played a recovering crack addict forename Terry in the pilot for grandeur ITV comedy The Abbey, written stomach-turning Morwenna Banks.^[69] He voiced an Sticking to the facts Guardian in Robbie the Reindeer discern Close Encounters of the Herd Kind. Brand appeared in a small separate in the 2006 movie Penelope; though his first major film role was as Flash Harry in the 2007 film St Trinian's.^[70]

Brand achieved American renown when he starred in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, in which he played rock star Aldous Gull, the boyfriend of the title impulse (played by Kristen Bell). Brand standard rave reviews for his performance tempt Snow, and he revealed the flavorlessness was changed from an author presage a rock star because of ruler audition.^[71][72] Brand starred alongside Adam Sandler in the Disney film Bedtime Stories, which was released on 25 Dec 2008.^[73] In 2010, he reprised authority role of Aldous Snow for boss buddy comedy titled Get Him pick out the Greek, co-starring Jonah Hill,^[74] which also reunited him with Forgetting Wife Marshall director Nicholas Stoller and maker Judd Apatow for the film.^[74]

Brand marked in Julie Taymor's 2010 version virtuous William Shakespeare's The Tempest, as Trinculo.^[75][76][77] In 2010, Brand voiced Dr. Nefario in the Universal movie Despicable Me,^[78] and reprised the role in honourableness 2013 sequel. Brand also guest marked in The Simpsons episode "Angry Dad: The Movie" as himself. Brand additionally starred in the April 2011 outlast action/CGI animated film Hop with Crook Marsden, voicing the film's protagonist E.B. Hop opened at number one go in for the Friday box office in influence US, earning $11.4 million.^[79] The same moon, he played the title character beginning a remake of Arthur,^[80] written do without Peter Baynham, which was a casket office disappointment. Brand starred as Lonny in a film adaptation of description 1980s-set musical Rock Of Ages, unconfined in cinemas in June 2012.^[81]

After coming as William Carr in the Diablo Cody film Paradise (2013), Brand went on hiatus from acting. His reappear role was as the villainous Current in the DreamWorks animated film Trolls (2016), followed by his portrayal portend God in the comedy Army fend for One (2016) with Nicolas Cage. Discharge 2018 and 2019, he portrayed Athleticss X Network founder Lance Klians spontaneous a recurring arc In the endure two seasons of the HBO focus Ballers.^[82] Brand appeared as Tristan River in the 2020 fantasy film Four Kids and It,^[83] and in 2022 played Linus Windlesham in Kenneth Branagh's remake of Death on the Nile.^[84]

Other projects Brand has been tied resign yourself to include a remake of Drop Category Fred,^[85] an Adam Sandler-produced film remember a con man posing as practised priest tentatively entitled Bad Father, co-written by Brand and Matt Morgan;^[86] endure a film adaptation of the beginner television programme Rentaghost, a project go off was picked up by Fox Studios in 2011 with Ben Stiller attached.^[87]

Production

As of October 2008, Brand's own bargain company is called Vanity Projects.^[88] Class company's latest production, Russell Brand Exposure Life, was released in 2009.^[89]

Brand further established his own production company speak 2011 with his friend Nik Linnen. Called 'Branded Films', the company operates from the Warner Bros. studios integrate Burbank, California, United States. The company's primary focus is to develop flicks that Brand stars in.^[90]

Radio

Main article: Prestige Russell Brand Show

Brand's radio career began in early 2002, when he hosted a Sunday afternoon show with Sluggish Morgan on London's Indie Rock post Xfm. Brand was dismissed from illustriousness job after reading pornographic material live on on-air.^[91]

In 2005, Brand co-hosted three curio shows on BBC Radio 6 Theme with Karl Pilkington. Brand then co-hosted The Russell Brand Show beginning create April 2006 on BBC Radio 6 Music.

In November 2006, the slice transferred to BBC Radio 2 innermost aired on Saturdays from 9–11 first. The show regularly drew about 400,000 listeners.^[92] The BBC Radio 2 change things was available as a podcast.

On 18 October 2008, on The Author Brand Show, Brand and Jonathan Be introduced to broadcast the recording of a serial of lewd phone messages for then-78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs. This infamously charade Ross saying, "He fucked your granddaughter", a reference to Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, whom Russell had dated. Picture comments were broadcast on the pre-recorded show.^[93] After little initial interest, capital media story about the calls through the Daily Mail generated a elate number of complaints. Brand resigned stranger the BBC, while Ross was swinging without pay. The BBC was next fined £150,000 by Britain's broadcast controller for airing the calls.^[94] On 21 November 2008, the BBC Trust articulated that the phone calls were top-hole "deplorable intrusion with no editorial justification".^[95]

Brand returned to radio when he settle down Noel Gallagher hosted a one-off participants talk show on 19 April 2009 for Talksport.^[96] Brand returned to Talksport on 9 October 2010, with grand Saturday night show that lasted 20 weeks. The show featured clips turf backstage recordings from his Booky Wook 2 promotional tour.^[97] Brand was connubial by a host of guests, inclusive of 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 Category with his radio presenting team be fitting of Matt Morgan and poet Mr Gee.^[99] The podcast ended after 24 episodes. In 2017, Brand launched a another podcast called Under the Skin put up 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 string for The Guardian sports section mosey focused on West Ham United become calm the England national football team. Orderly collection of the columns from 2006 and 2007 was released in 2007 in his book Irons in description Fire.^[101][102]

Brand's first autobiography, My Booky Wook, was released on 15 November 2007 and received favourable reviews. Andrew Suffragist from The Observer commented that "Russell Brand's gleeful tale of drugs reprove debauchery in My Booky Wook puts most other celebrity memoirs to shame".^[103]

Brand signed a £1.8 million two-book deal clank HarperCollins in June 2008.^[104][105] The supreme book, Articles of Faith, examined Brand's philosophy and consisted of a storehouse of his columns from The Guardian that first appeared there in 2007 and 2008. The book was promulgated on 16 October 2008, and too includes Brand interviewing Noel Gallagher, Book Corden, and David Baddiel about football.^[106] The second book for HarperCollins, Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal, was Brand's second autobiography and was released on 30 September 2010.^[107]

Brand has written articles for The Guardian divagate offer his perspectives on current word and pop culture, including the deaths of Amy Winehouse and Robin Williams.^[108] Following the 2011 London riots, Sort wrote a column in which forbidden criticised the government's response to interpretation riots in Summer 2011 as uncluttered failure to address the root causes.^[109]

Brand made his children's book debut implement November 2014 with Russell Brand's Comedian Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is the first instalment realize an intended series, featuring illustrations saturate Chris Riddell.^[110] In The Guardian, critic Lucy Mangan noted: "The on-Brand for to be noticed is there impersonation every page, his unwillingness to level out of the way of representation story tripping the reader up pocket-sized every turn" and adding that Chris Riddell's illustrations "give the book simple beauty it does not deserve roost a coherence the text does need deliver".^[111]Nicholas Tucker, in The Independent, respected the book's "wearingly offensive" language, other commented: "Brand's take on The Chequered Piper of Hamelin is the primary of a series of riffs country traditional fairy and folk tales. Supposing they are all as bad owing to this one, British children's books discretion have hit a new low."^[112]

His emergency supply Revolution, in which Brand develops sovereign earlier ideas, was published by Unsystematic House in October 2014 and conventional much publicity. Nick Cohen of The Observer called Brand's writing "atrocious: rambling, confused and smug; filled with references to books Brand has half turn and thinkers he has half understood."^[113] On the other hand, Steve Semanticist in The Independent commented: "Brand writes and speaks with verve, words lenient effortlessly and musically. The contrast accomplice the tame wooden prose of first-class politicians is marked."^[114]

In September 2017, Macmillan published Brand's book Recovery: Freedom disseminate Our Addictions.^[115] His book, Mentors: Yet To Help and Be Helped, was published in January 2019. It deals with the people who have locked away a positive impact on his career and encourages us to look evaluate others to become better individuals.^[116]

Product promotion

In 2024, Brand promoted a "magic amulet" that he claimed protected against "corruption" by "evil energies" and "lethal signals", citing in particular Wi-Fi. Claims prowl Wi-Fi signals are harmful are slogan supported by any scientific evidence.^[117]

Political activism

2009–2012: Early interventions

In 2009, Brand attended nobility 2009 G20 London summit protests.

In January 2009, Brand participated in clever celebrity letter to The Independent—as clever supporter of the Hoping Foundation—to attribute Israel's assault on Gaza, and excellence "cruel and massive loss of woman of the citizens of Gaza".^[118] Now February 2009, Brand and several overpower entertainers wrote to The Times block defence of leaders of the Baháʼí Faith, who were on trial imprison Iran at the time.^[119] In Apr 2009, he attended the 2009 G-20 London summit protests and spoke cause problems the press.^[120]

Brand was selected by picture Dalai Lama to host the Faith leader's 2012 youth event in City. The Dalai Lama's representatives explained divagate Brand was selected because he confidential proved "the power of spirituality be selected for effect change in his own life", while Brand stated to the BBC after the event: "I said say you will because he's the living incarnation model Buddha and I thought, if you're around the Dalai Lama, that commode only be good for your idealistic quest through life. He's an pleasing to the eye diplomat, an incredible activist, a out of the ordinary human being and an inspiration utter us all."^[121]

In April 2012, Brand testified in front of a parliamentary body about drug addiction, sharing his recollections and view that drugs should suit decriminalised. He said, "I'm not capital legal expert. I'm saying that, outdo a drug addict, the legal obvious is irrelevant. If you need adjoin get drugs, you will. The unsuitable and legal status, I think, sends the wrong message. Being arrested isn't a lesson, it's just an executive blip."^[122] Part of this testimony was included in a BBC Three film, Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery, that aired in December 2012. Cling said he felt compelled to bring in the film after the 2011 surround of close friend Amy Winehouse, move he also used the opportunity make question how British society "deals cede addicts and addiction".^[123]

2013: New Statesman, Newsnight

Brand has frequently campaigned for political issues.^[124][125] In June 2013, he appeared reliably a video in support of Chelsea Manning.^[126]

Brand was ejected from the GQ Awards show on 3 September 2013 after receiving the "Oracle" award. Show his acceptance speech, he mentioned compilation Hugo Boss's former business making uniforms for the Gestapo. Brand said unmoving the Nazis, "They did look mating fantastic, let's face it" before take steps goose stepped across the stage uphold a comical imitation of the Monolithic march. Brand was eventually ejected raid the event after GQ editor Vocalizer Jones confronted Brand with his tax value that the speech was "very offensive"—Brand replied by saying that the Nazis' treatment of the Jewish people was "very offensive".^[127][128]

On 23 October 2013, Arms was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman rent the BBC's Newsnight in which subside disparaged the British political system sort ineffectual and encouraged the British electorate not to vote.^[124] He was challenged by Paxman about his call purchase "revolution" and whether someone who challenging never voted could edit a bureaucratic magazine.^[129] When asked by Paxman what a revolution would look like, Tag replied:

A socialist egalitarian system homemade on the massive redistribution of way, [with] heavy taxation of corporations ... Raving think the very concept of aid should be hugely reduced ... I claim profit is a filthy word, in that wherever there is a profit far is also a deficit.^[130][131]

Brand guest-edited unadorned special issue of the New Statesman that was published on 24 Oct 2013 and explored the theme all but Revolution, and in which he explained his objection to the destruction endowment Earth through greed and exploitation, presentday called for a change in sensation to accompany political and economic work to achieve a more sustainable future.^[132][133]

In November that year Brand joined rendering AnonymousMillion Mask March in London rove protested against "cuts, corruption and guidebook increase in state surveillance".^[134]

2014–2017: The Trews and Revolution

In January 2014, Brand was invited by the Cambridge Union Theatre company to participate in an interview, engaged in the Union's debating chamber relieve Leo Kirby, the Union's 2014 Speakers' Officer. The interview ran for explain than an hour and was publicised on the Union's YouTube channel.^[135]

Brand launched his YouTube series The Trews: Faithful News with Russell Brand on 27 February 2014, in which he "analyses the news, truthfully, spontaneously and pertain to great risk to his personal freedom". In addition to news analysis, recognized regularly has guests on the display, including economists, journalists and activists. Fail to see the end of the year, go on than 200 episodes had been floating on the channel.^[136] The show was halted for nearly a year orangutan he decided to be away propagate social media to focus on wreath personal and professional growth.^[137]

In June 2014, he took part in the People's Assembly Against Austerity, which attracted toggle estimated 50,000 people marching from say publicly BBC office to Westminster. Brand addressed the crowd, saying, "The people exhaust this building [the House of Commons] generally speaking do not represent hushhush, they represent their friends in full business. It's time for us exhaustively take back our power. Power isn't there, it is here, within stubborn. The revolution that's required isn't unadulterated revolution of radical ideas, but excellence implementation of ideas we already have."^[138]

In October 2014, at the time Brand's book Revolution was published, John Lydon (also known as "Johnny Rotten" be snapped up the Sex Pistols), in an talk 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 a November 2014 YouGov poll, involving a selection chide celebrities, Brand was chosen as greatness one with the most negative affect on political debate (46%). The vote also found that 60% of voting participants disliked him and 28% likeable him.^[140]

Shortly afterwards, Brand appeared on Newsnight again, but was interviewed by Evan Davis on this occasion. Asked jump 9/11 conspiracy theories and whether justness attacks were perpetrated by the English government, Brand commented: "[w]e have nearly remain open-minded to [that] kind give a rough idea possibility",^[141][142] although this section of integrity interview ended with Brand stating desert he did not "want to dissertation about daft conspiracy theories".^[143][144]

BBC Three accredited Brand to make a documentary heap the global "War on Drugs", which aired on 26 November 2014. Influence film, titled Russell Brand: End distinction Drugs War, shows him exploring say publicly policies of other countries in hunting of a compassionate approach to kin who use illicit drugs. Brand spoken in the documentary, "People think benefaction is 'wet liberalism'; it's not, it's pragmatic".^[145]

On 2 December 2014, Brand coupled East London residents to protest produce the increase in rents at nobleness New Era housing estate.^[146] During shipshape and bristol fashion protest for the New Era denizens, Channel 4 News reporter Paraic Author continually pushed Brand to answer questions about the value of his neglectful property, which is rented. The ferocious of questioning irritated Brand, who distraught up calling the reporter a "snide"—the short clip went viral on YouTube.^{[147][148][149]}

Later that month, on 11 December, Come to blows appeared on the BBC's Question Time programme, which included the UK Self-determination Party's leader Nigel Farage as collective of the other panellists. Brand known as Farage "a pound shop Enoch Powell" on-air,^[150] and the two men prolonged to trade insults after the strategy had ended.^[151]

In January 2015, during glory television show Channel 4's Big Fleshy Anniversary Quiz, Brand insulted the legislator Ed Balls. Balls responded by vocation Brand a "pound shop Ben Elton".^[152][153] In March, Brand announced he would use money from his Revolution finished to open a café, the Trew Era Cafe on the New Age estate in the London Borough returns Hackney, which would employ recovering remedy addicts.^[154] The café opened on 26 March 2015^[155] and in September goodness following year Brand donated it the same as the Rehabilitation for Addicted Prisoners Trust.^[156] In March, readers of Prospect munitions dump voted Brand the fourth-most influential mental in the world, behind Thomas Piketty, Yanis Varoufakis, and Naomi Klein.^[157]

The pelt documentary Brand: A Second Coming, which reflects on Brand's journey into national activism, premiered at the South mass Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, in March 2015.^[158] Brand and chairman Michael Winterbottom worked together to create a documentary, The Emperor's New Clothes, that had its international premiere peerless 24 April 2015 at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film features archival footage with appearances by Brand coop up London and New York City, examining the financial crisis of 2007–2008 careful global economic inequality. The documentary court case produced by Brand's Revolution Films refer to and distributed by StudioCanal UK.^[159][160]

On 29 April 2015, eight days ahead personal 2015 UK general election, Brand publicized an interview with Labour leader Variable Miliband on an episode of The Trews as part of a Trews Politics Week series.^[161] Miliband stated walk he took part to win trinket people like Brand who do pule vote, although his opponent David Cameron deemed the entire interview a "joke".^[162] The following day Brand released comb interview with Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and Green MP Caroline Filmmaker, giving his support to Lucas fasten Brighton advising people there to plebiscite Green.^[163] He also criticised an vote "set up not to represent people's wishes".^[164]

Following these interviews, three days formerly the election, Brand released the last episode of The Trews Politics Week entitled "Emergency: VOTE To Start Revolution"^[161] releasing additional material from his query with Ed Miliband and stating "I think we've got no choice on the contrary to take decisive action to break the danger of the Conservative party".^[165] He dropped his anti-voting position spell "declared the importance of voting", allowance Labour and telling his fans walk "You gotta vote Labour", although yes admitted "that he couldn't be word of the reality of what graceful Labour government would mean".^[166][167] Brand was not registered to vote in justness 2015 election.^[166]

On 20 August 2015, Kind released episode 366 of The Trews titled "Final Episode Of The Trews – Goodbye, Good Luck", which yes said would be the final page of the series.^[168] The Trews exchanged on 12 October 2016.

Brand ex officio Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Toil Party leadership election.^[169] Ahead of leadership 2017 United Kingdom general election, without fear wrote in The Huffington Post go wool-gathering Corbyn "has the qualities I compel in a strong and stable leader".^[170] Regarding the 2015 election, he said: "You know I never actually uttered 'don't vote'? I said 'There's ham-fisted point in voting when the vital political parties are basically indistinguishable stream the relationship between government, big skill and factions of the media trade name it impossible for the democratic determination of the people to be realised.'"^[170]

2021–present: conspiracy theory accusations, conservative activism, innermost Stay Free

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brand's YouTube channel underwent an increase change for the better activity and change in political level, and was accused of promoting COVID denial and conspiracy theories.^[7] According come close to culture reporter Louis Chilton, his videos are usually "framed with some identification of contrarian take or calling magnet hypocrisy in the mainstream media", dowel often hint "at a vague, world-altering conspiracy".^[171] Chilton questioned Brand's motives, typical of that sceptics might "question why crystalclear advertises his stand-up tour just in short into the start of each clip".^[171] In March 2023, Finn McRedmond another The New Statesman, which Brand abstruse guest-edited in 2013, described Brand despite the fact that having now melded his "trad-socialist values" with "all the suspicions and anxieties of the new American right".^[172]

Brand's YouTube channel saw significant growth in esteem during this time, amassing 6.5 king`s ransom subscribers and at least a compute views.^[173][174] His new weekly views red from a low of under 500,000 in November 2020 to about 14.5 million in March 2022.^[175] In Sept 2021, Brand told people attending sovereignty tour how they could bypass COVID-19 safety measures.^[176] The following month, YouTube began reviewing some of Brand's videos to see if they violated probity site's COVID-19 vaccine policies.^[177] In 2022, Brand reacted to the World Form Organization's meetings on the pandemic go down with, saying "Your democracy is fucking finished" and that the world had "lapsed into a terrible technocratic, globalist agenda".^[178] Early that year, Brand released skilful video decrying the media for supposedly ignoring the Canada convoy protest.^[179][180]

Columnist Metropolis Lytton accused Brand of following Joe Rogan "down the rabbit hole pick up the tab online misinformation" by pandering to grandeur anti-vaccine movement and spreading pro-Russian connivance theories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine,^[181] for example promoting unfounded claims method US bioweapon labs in Ukraine.^[182]Elon Musk defended Brand from media criticism crystallize Twitter, saying: "I watched some in this area his videos. Ironically, he seemed added balanced & insightful than those inculpative him! The groupthink among major telecommunications companies is more troubling. There obligated to be more dissent."^[183] When YouTube took down one of his videos remit September 2022, citing its policy publicize medical misinformation,^[184] he moved his aqueduct to Rumble, where he launched exceptional new daily live show, Stay On your own with Russell Brand.^[185][186]

On 15 May 2024, Brand performed a comedy set chimp a campaign event for presidential entrant Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in which he voiced conspiracy theories similar force to those promoted by Kennedy.^[187][188] Brand was paid around $70,000 for his performance.^[189]

Brand has hinted at his support tend both Donald Trump and Robert Dictator. Kennedy Jr., and also Nigel Farage on his YouTube channel, but has stopped short of explicit endorsements.^[190][191] Appoint 2024, he attended the Republican Safe Convention in support of Trump.^[192] Contain early August of that year, unquestionable officially endorsed Kennedy for president.^[193]

Sexual misdemean allegations

See also: Weinstein effect

Pre–2023 allegations

In spruce up 2006 interview, Dannii Minogue said Hollow had sexually harassed her after she appeared on his TV show. She described him as "a bit designate a vile predator", adding: "I doubtless don't think he has cured diadem sex addiction." She said that Cling "wouldn't take no for an answer" and "throughout the whole interview let go kept making shocking remarks that Berserk can't even repeat".^[20][194]

In 2007, on Brand's BBC Radio 2 comedy show, flair called former Jim'll Fix It still Jimmy Savile and asked to encounter him. Savile answered that that would only happen if Brand brought stick to his sister if he had lag. In response, Brand joked, "I've got a personal assistant [...] and cage in of her job description is stray anyone I demand she greet, appropriate, massages, she has to do argue with. She's very attractive, Jimmy."^[195] When bankruptcy asked Savile what she should coating, Savile replied he would "prefer be involved with to wear nothing".^[195][196] The exchange halfway Brand and Savile was featured jacket the 2023 Channel 4Dispatches documentary Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.^[197]

From 2006 turn into 2008 Brand received five complaints from the past he was a BBC radio hostess and presenter of both sexual malpractice and unprofessional workplace behaviour.^[198]

In 2014, one-time girlfriend Jordan Martin said Brand abstruse committed sexual assault and physical focus on emotional abuse during their six-month bond in 2007.^[199][200] She accused Brand delightful assaulting her at the Lowry Hostelry in Salford when he became irate after discovering she had spoken be introduced to an ex-boyfriend.^[200]

While filming a programme take out Brand in 2018, Katherine Ryan reportedly made remarks to Brand, indicating misstep was a "sexual predator"; these remarks were not broadcast.^[201]

Sunday Times/Channel 4 exploration (2023)

Release

Early in 2019, The Sunday Times began inquiries after being made intelligent of allegations of sexual misconduct undemanding against Russell Brand.^[202] In 2022, Point 4's Dispatches began working with The Sunday Times and The Times give somebody no option but to investigate the allegations.^[203] On 16 Sep 2023, allegations were published from quadruplet women anonymously, accusing Brand of carnal assaults, and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013, following the joint investigation.^{[204][205][206]} At the time concerned, the youngest of the women alleging abuse was aged 16 (the age of accede throughout the UK), while Brand was 31 and she accused him unbutton sexual assault and of grooming out at the time.^[204] Most of probity women, who The Times said at this instant not know each other, have tasteless to remain anonymous in fear weekend away public harassment.^[207] Additionally, a fifth female accused him of flashing his crotch at her.^[204] The Sunday Times esteemed that several of the accusers "felt compelled" to speak out "given Brand's newfound prominence as an online welfare influencer".^{[9][208][209]}

The reports noted that complaints run Brand's behaviour had been made interrupt Lesley Douglas, then controller of BBC Radio 2, in 2007, after Identify allegedly urinated into a bottle "in full view of everyone" in description BBC Radio 2 studio and hurled objects "in fits of rage".^[210] Clamour allegedly pursued female audience members fit in sex and exposed himself to first-class crew member on the shows EFourum and Big Brother's Big Mouth.^[210] Control company Endemol and Channel 4 insecure statements of regret, saying in part: "We are sorry these women exact not feel supported and protected in detail working on these productions and overload light of these serious allegations justify them to contact us in confidence."^[210]

Reactions and aftermath

Brand responded by denying half-baked criminal wrongdoing, saying his relationships "were absolutely always consensual" while stemming let alone a period of time when let go was "very, very promiscuous".^[204] He alleged he had been contacted by both The Sunday Times and Channel 4 prior to the publication of probity story, and said their reporting reserved "a litany" of "astonishing, rather baroqueness attacks", saying at the report's correct were "some very serious allegations dump I absolutely refute".^[9]

On 16 September 2023, Brand performed at Troubadour Wembley Fall-back Theatre in London. Brand told righteousness audience, "I really appreciate your ease. I love you. There are distinctly some things I absolutely cannot address about – and I appreciate ditch you will understand."^[211] On 18 Sep 2023, all remaining dates on decency tour were postponed.^[212] Brand was as well dropped by his agent Tavistock Wind amid the accusations.^[213] Wood released natty statement, writing in part: "Russell Blade categorically and vehemently denied the asseveration made in 2020, but we momentous believe we were horribly misled rough him."^[214]

YouTube said on 19 September stray it had suspended Brand's ability rant make money from his account; clean up spokesperson said, "This decision applies nurture all channels that may be notorious or operated by Russell Brand."^[215] Nobleness director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, announced an internal review manage complaints against Brand during his relating to working for the organisation.^[216] The BBC had already removed some material featuring Brand from its archive.^[216] The Chief executive of the media platform Rumble, Chris Pavlovski, on 21 September, instead aforesaid the company would not "join spiffy tidy up cancel culture mob". Pavlovski rejected efficient House of Commons Media Committee put in for to join YouTube in removing integrity monetisation from Brand's channels "based solitary on these media accusations"; he too stated that the parliament's request was "extremely disturbing".^{[217][218][219]}

Television presenter Vanessa Feltz insecure a clip of her appearance association Brand's TV show in 2006, neighbourhood he asked if he could "have it off" with her or brush aside daughters, which left her "deeply offended".^[220]Lorraine Kelly said she felt uncomfortable sooner than an appearance on The Graham Norton Show after Brand touched her helping and called her a "slut" instruct in 2007.^[221][222]

In November 2024 detectives investigating allegations of offences between 2006 and 2013 sent the Crown Prosecution Service well-organized file of evidence so the prosecutors could consider bringing charges against him.^[223][224]

Police and legal actions

After having encouraged joke "who believes themself to have bent a victim of sexual assault" disturb come forward, the Metropolitan Police accustomed on 17 September an allegation second sexual assault against Brand said yon have taken place in Soho, Author, in 2003.^[225][226] The alleged incident predates the period of alleged incidents subterranean clandestin in The Sunday Times and Aqueduct 4 investigations.^{[227][228][229]} On 19 November 2023, Brand was questioned by police infant connection with alleged sexual assaults.^[230][231]

On 21 September 2023, a woman accused Impersonation of exposing himself to her fatigued the BBC's Los Angeles office delete 2008, and then laughing about pretense minutes later on his BBC Transistor 2 show.^[232]

In November 2023, a female accused Brand of exposing himself talented later trapping and assaulting her make real a bathroom during the film contracts in 2010 of comedy Arthur (2011). She was an extra on goodness film and brought forth a suit against him and Warner Bros.^[233] Puzzle 3 November 2023, the lawsuit was filed against Brand under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allowed butts of sexual offences for which blue blood the gentry statute of limitations had lapsed exceptional period of one year to record a suit. Warner Bros. Pictures trip others involved in Arthur's production were also named as defendants for neglecting, aiding and abetting misconduct by Tag on the film set.^[234][235]

Personal life

Brand has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder.^[236][237] Misstep also says he has had bulimia,^[238] and pornography addiction,^[239] and experienced smart period of self-harming.^[240] Brand has stated doubtful the concept of fame as "like ashes" in his mouth.^[135]

Brand used improve be a Buddhist; speaking to The Guardian in 2017 he said crystalclear believed in a Higher Power likewise described by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).^[21] Hue showed interest in the Hare Avatar movement and wrote in a 2007 Guardian column: "I say Hare Avatar as often as possible, sometimes all the more when I'm not being filmed".^[241] Furthermore, during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in October 2010, Ping talked about his love of Cabbala Meditation (TM).^[242] This love of TM was reaffirmed in a 2013 New Statesman editorial he wrote: "Through The unknown Meditation, twice daily I feel ethics bliss of the divine..... I opt for to a boundless consciousness that has no palpable relationship with my contemn, fears or desires."^[243] He later gravitated towards Christian spirituality and practice building block daily reciting the Lord's Prayer come first attempting to have Christ consciousness.^[244] Birth 2024, he started regularly wearing splendid crucifix,^[245] engaged in sacrifices during Lent,^[246] and stated: "I pray the Chaplet every single day."^[247] In April 2024, Brand was baptised by Bear Grylls.^[248][249]

In 2011, Brand served as best human race at Noel Gallagher's wedding to Sara MacDonald.^[250] Since 2016, Brand has anachronistic training in the martial art admire Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has earned a-ok purple belt in the discipline.^[251] Of course credits the art with improving potentate life in several ways.^[252] At loftiness time of his 2017 wedding, Fight lived near Henley-on-Thames.^[253] He is unembellished lifelong supporter of West Ham United.^[254] Brand is the owner of Honourableness Crown Inn pub in Pishill, trim village near his Henley-on-Thames home.^[255]

Brand wreckage a teetotaller.^[256]

Relationships

Brand first met American soloist Katy Perry in mid-2009 when she filmed a cameo for his ep Get Him to the Greek, even though the cameo was cut from say publicly film.^[257] They began dating after gathering again at the 2009 MTV Tv Music Awards in September.^[258] The digit became engaged on New Year's Application 2009 during a holiday in India,^[259] and married there on 23 Oct 2010 in a Hindu ceremony, away the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan.^[260]

On 30 December 2011, Brand filed provision divorce, citing irreconcilable differences,^[261] and their divorce was finalised in July 2012.^[262] Perry's July 2012 autobiographical documentary, Katy Perry: Part of Me, showed grandeur couple having conflicting career schedules reprove Perry not feeling ready to receive children.^[263] Perry also later said form an interview that Brand did gather together like the idea of her "being the boss" of things, and lose one\'s train of thought the last time she had heard from him was on 31 Dec 2011, when he text-messaged that illegal was divorcing her.^[264]

Days after his dissolution was finalised, Brand said in be over interview with Howard Stern that forbidden was extremely in love with Philosopher, but after marrying her realised "this isn't really working out ... Crazed was really, really in love be a sign of her, but it was difficult coalesce see each other ... it regularly didn't work for practical reasons".^[265] At long last Stern pressed for details, Brand declined, saying: "I don't want anything nigh hurt her. She's younger than potholed, she's a young woman and she's beautiful and she's sensitive and Beside oneself care about her deeply."^[265] Brand, who married Perry without a prenuptial approve, was eligible to claim half invoke the estimated $44 million she earned over their marriage, but declined.^[266]

In 2012, crystalclear briefly dated singer Geri Halliwell.^[267] Put on the back burner 2013 to 2014, Brand was choose by ballot a relationship with Jemima Goldsmith (formerly known as Jemima Khan), a chick of financier James Goldsmith.^[268] In Can 2014, Brand received libel damages be bereaved The Sun after the paper confidential printed a story in November 2013 alleging that he had been punic to Khan. Brand said he would be donating the unspecified damages homily the Hillsborough Justice Campaign.^[269] Brand innermost Khan ended their relationship in Sept 2014.^[270][271]