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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Russell Brand has been out of control for years

103 replies

teddyandgypsy · 18/09/2023 20:12

Russell Brand has been enabled to become the preposterous character he is by all those who facilitated his behaviour. That includes people who commissioned and watched his shows, idiots who bought his books and videos and the people who booked to see him. I have no idea if he raped anyone but I would put money on him being in prison within a couple of years. The fact is, his behaviour is and should be abhorrent to anyone with a shred of integrity.

OP posts:

Dotcheck · 18/09/2023 20:14

Er- I don’t think you can blame his viewers for his behaviour

NameChangeNotReporting · 18/09/2023 20:17

I bought his books, listened and contributed to his radio show, watched his TV shows, saw him live a few times, and snogged him a few times too.

I had no fucking idea that he was sexually abusing and raping women. Obviously.

I believe the women who have shared their trauma 100%. I don't understand why you think those of us who enjoyed his work, without knowing what was going on, are 'idiots'

Blinkinbloodyhayfever · 18/09/2023 20:21

The documentary was quite sickening. Worse is when you look at social media reports on him with countless males supporting him. It kind of proves that media is a hostile environment for women, not just Channel 4 trying to be cool, but even the BBC enabled him. I also think he won't be the last of his type. I never watched any of his stand up shows or anything he presented, I always thought he seemed manky and chaotic, but I did enjoy his character in a couple of films - he was good in Death on the Nile, but how the hell did producers think putting him in St Trinians was a good idea? Talk about fox in the hen house.

LizzieSiddal · 18/09/2023 20:23

I agree to some extent. When he was “joking” about raping women, he should have been stopped there and then, it’s NOT acceptable to joke about making someone choke with your penis.
Frankie Boyle jokes about raping women, the evidence is on his DVDs which have sold in their thousands. He should be next for investigated.

Bapbap45 · 18/09/2023 20:24

Its not a helpful attitude regarding the people who were fans. As pointed out by someone yesterday, good people can do bad things. I think a lot of people are struggling with the idea that they were fans and he was in plain sight.

Absolutely though, the execs and industry types who knew and rather than deal with it, told everyone 'boys will be boys' they need to have a good long think about it.

And he's now created a new army of devoted fans away from mainstream media, from what I can see, almost in a premeditated move for this inevitable day to arrive. Crafty bastard.

mummabubs · 18/09/2023 20:26

Ah, so it's other people's fault that he likely raped at least two women and sexually assaulted others....

I was a big Russell Brand back in the day. Bought his books, listened to his podcast and found his zany humour funny. I am not responsible for his behaviour, his thoughts or his actions. I believe the women who have come forward. His actions are not due to anyone but him. No one who liked his material "enabled" him to become a sex offender.

schoolsoutforever · 18/09/2023 20:44

i was thinking a similar thing earlier; it’s not about blaming audiences for an individual’s behaviour. Like some people in the early 2000s, I thought Russell Brand was funny at one point and, I’m sure In many ways he was. However, watching those clips in isolation in the Dispatches documentary and remembering back to the Andrew Sach’s granddaughter scandal, I feel that I was very naive (or perhaps a bit thoughtless/mindless) to go along with it all happily. He literally seemed to joke about the pleasure of women crying during oral sex. It really was, then and now, at the very least deeply misogynistic and cruel. I’m not sure why few ever spoke up about him. I’m not sure why I thought he was OK at one point. But I do think it says more about the norms of cultural acceptability that he got away behaving as he did for so long. That isn’t the same thing at all as blaming individuals who thought he was funny at points, otherwise I would be to blame myself.

VeloVixen · 18/09/2023 20:44

He’s quoting Jesus on tiktok now. Forgive them father for they know not what they do. Then talking about the Lord Buddha and transcending the light or something. Think he’s gone a bit Kanye West.

DisforDarkChocolate · 18/09/2023 20:45

Sometimes hiding in plain sight is all you need to do to get any with anything.

Froodwithatowel · 18/09/2023 20:46

His gleeful behaviour in the Andrew Sach's situation said everything anyone needed to know about him.

Fruitynutcase · 18/09/2023 20:49

Froodwithatowel · 18/09/2023 20:46

His gleeful behaviour in the Andrew Sach's situation said everything anyone needed to know about him.

I was so shocked that he wasn't cancelled then . It was vile what he did bragging about a private act to the woman's Grandfather. They must have been devastating for the family .

Zerrin13 · 18/09/2023 20:51

I have utterly despised him since the Andrew Sach's episode. I despise Jonathan Ross aswell for his part in it. It was cruel and despicable.

dontletsaskforthemoon · 18/09/2023 20:56

To me, he's always been just plain bloody weird, and I've never understood the misogynistic 'humour'. Never understood the appeal personally.

waterlego · 18/09/2023 20:57

I quite liked Brand and had no idea he was a wrong’un. I saw one of his shows a few years ago. He didn’t make any inappropriate sexual jokes in his set. A lot of the material was about becoming a father and he did talk about childbirth in rather crude terms but I didn’t feel at the time that it was disrespectful- rather he seemed awestruck at what women endure when bringing babies into the world. I met him briefly afterwards and then met him again last summer at a festival. I witnessed no crossing of boundaries. I found him pleasant and amusing. But I absolutely believe those women.

I feel like a bit of an idiot when people are now saying ‘It’s so obvious! How did people not realise?’ I’m afraid I was the same with Saville- everyone seemed to be saying ‘He was hiding in plain sight!’ Well I’m afraid I didn’t spot it. I thought he was odd but I didn’t realise he was a dangerous predator.

I hasten to add I have since seen interview footage etc of both men which says a lot about the type of men they are. Perhaps I would have spotted the red flags if I’d seen those bits of footage at the time.

So clearly I am very naïve. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been very fortunate in life to have some excellent men in my life- my dad, brother, husband. I have rarely encountered dangerous men (to my knowledge, although statistically I must know some I suppose).

Hopefully knowing that I am naïve will make me more cautious with regards to people I spend time with or allow to spend time with my children.

Rewis · 18/09/2023 20:58

I haven't really followed RB too closely. I went to his Instagram and his followers are obviously supporting him. Including some celebs

They seem to be going on about how 'they' are after him because he thinks outside the box, he tells the truth, he knows too much etc.

So what exactly is his 'thing'?

Calistano · 18/09/2023 21:02

Anyone with eyes and ears could have told you that. I have learned to take people at literal face value. I remember seeing him on something years ago and when he wasn't being engaged by the presenter he was like a fucking void. I believe the woman who said his eyes went black when he was enraged. Creepy fuckwit.

Pizzapie22 · 18/09/2023 21:02

I think there are a lot of celebrities who spent a chunk of their lives off their face on drugs and probably did a lot of terrible things.

Calistano · 18/09/2023 21:05

If they were going to take Russell brand out for his views, I reckon there would have been quite a queue before him. I can't say I have seen any of his recent stuff, but he can't have been very extreme if he was still on YouTube.

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 18/09/2023 21:07

I've hated him since the Andrew Sachs messages. The man is a piece of shit. I'm finding it funny that he thinks all this has come about because he speaks out against authority, as if he's that influential or important!

RudsyFarmer · 18/09/2023 21:11

It’s right to be deeply suspicious of anyone who evangelises to their cult followers, particularly when they add in conspiracy and anti establishment theories. It was pretty evident to me that he swapped drugs for women for religion. He needs power and infatuation and now gets that from his online sermons.

The rest of it I have no idea. I guess it’s going to depend on how many people come forward.

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 18/09/2023 21:18

This feels kind of like victim blaming. His fans should have known he was a rapist? I am a rape survivor and I loved him. I didn't know.

If rapists are so obvious then no one would be raped. We would all avoid the rapists. The point is we don't know. Stop being smug.

EasternStandard · 18/09/2023 21:18

A Guardian article was linked on another thread lambasting right wing media for having a go at the BBC over Sachs message

Saying it was froth and over reaction etc

It’s a reminder of the general feeling at the time

The BBC has caved into the mass hysteria and hypocrisy of a baying, irrational mob. It has suspended radio presenters Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand, prompting Brand to quit. For what?
This storm in a teacup was started by two members of the public who complained to the BBC when the programme was broadcast.

AuntieStella · 18/09/2023 21:18

I wasn't a fan - I thought he was an over-enubciated one-trick pony.

But I don't think it's right to blame the ordinary fans, who went to shows, bought the books etc.

I do blame, very much, the entertainment execs who knew he was a predatory liability, but still gave him work (even, if The Times is to be believed) to the extent of moving women off production teams.

There is always plenty of "talent" - the best roles and shows should not be going to the predators.

EasternStandard · 18/09/2023 21:20

I don’t blame fans though

How many knew his comedy was pretty close to rl

Abhannmor · 18/09/2023 21:43

He seemed to rise without trace. From nowhere to a TV show , then a gig on Radio 2. Without all that tiresome gigging in small clubs and pubs for years.

I don't think of him as a comedian really. Certainly not an actor. He is a creature of the media I suppose and a manipulator of it.
But what us it that he does apart from being tall and handsome? Comes across as working class intelligentsia. Rapid fire circumlocutions , often intermixed with a dollop of self deprecating Cockney slang. Clever Trevor. Forgive me if this ain't quite right. I'm just a local boy done good.

I've just watched a bit of him debating Jordan Peterson. Hard going. Disraeli said Gladstone was ' intoxicated by the exuberance of his own verbosity '. Well Dizzy mate - you shoulda seen these two. Interesting how politely and carefully they circled one another. You can't kid a kidder maybe?

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