Webchat with Russell Brand - Weds 12 Nov - 1 o'clock

[JustineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to say that Russell Brand is joining us on Wednesday 12 November between 1 and 2pm.

For those who don't know, Russell Brand is a comedian, actor and author.

His latest book, Revolution, sets out his views for political change - because, he says, "democracy has been taken away from us".

You might have caught his recent interview on Newsnight, which was widely discussed on the boards.

This is his third book, following My Booky Wook and Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal and has just published the first in a new series of children's books Russell Brand's Trickster Tales: The Pied Piper of Hamelin, written by Russell and illustrated by Chris Riddell.

Please do join us on Wednesday - or if you can't, feel free to post questions in advance, here.

(Reminder that we only allow one question and one follow-up per user, so make sure to use yours wisely )

Daughter #2
Will you still be doing Dr Nefario voiceover in Despicable Me 3 (2017?) minion obsessive

Daughter #1
Is your ex wife's claim that you broke up with her by text true or is it bollocks like Phil Collins fax break-up? (I added that last bit, she hasn't a clue who Phil Collins is) What caused a bigger row: tweeting a morning photo of her without make up or telling a joke about her at a gig she turned up to unannounced? klatsch und tratsch teenager who keeps watching Part of me

The current Mr.Viper:
Did Courtney Love really turn you down? Courtney Love?
schadenfreudig much

Me:
How many times have you said I love you and meant it? hopeless romantic

Can I attempt to address some of the vitriol (I'm pretty much defeated by this place now anyway so I might as well throw the towel in)

Russell Brand was sexually abused as a child and was introduced to both pornography (at a ridiculously young age) and prostitution by his own father. He also was a drug addict and has suffered with mental health problems.

Whilst this does not excuse some of his past behaviour, it may go some way to explaining it. He himself would be the first to admit the mistakes he has made and how he tries to redress the balance. He repeatedly says that he isn't perfect, isn't to be idolised or followed but encourages you to find out this stuff for yourself from people who do know.

I have heard him discuss feminism in a very humane way by saying he doesn't know enough about it and understands his position of priviliedge and he will listen and learn from women about a subject which affects them.

I used to listen to Russell talking about women and wouldn't bat an eyelid about the language he used, the constant sexualising etc because that's how the men, women, girls and boys I grew up with talked all the time.

I hear it now though and yes, he was really, really sexist. I couldn't say whether he was/is a mysoginist there is a difference in my book.

I am a feminist. I didn't used to be. I had to learn. When you're from a rough working class background and the environment you live in is inherently sexist you just go along with it. You don't know any different. I grew up with the men in my family reading the Sun, the Star and even the Sunday Sport. I have behaved in mysoginist ways. I used to believe women who didn't like porn were frigid, I even in my teens after after a friend and I were sexually assaulted didn't go to the Police because I genuinely thought it was our fault for being dressed provocatively. I could go on and on.

I don't believe any of those things now, because I've moved out of those circles and educated myself. If I told my story in detail but then told you the ways I'd changed, would you still hold me to account for all my past misdemeanours?

Maybe I'm being naive, but I think people can and do change and it's nice to sometimes not be cynical about someone's motives.

Hmmm...two questions really...

1. You seem to be someone who us unabashed in his love of his mother which is just brilliant to see (Lord knows we get very little positive press and support for our graft ) and how she has contributed to you be what you are today. What do you think she did that is worth other mothers trying to replicate..?

2. My son and daughter's neo-Marxist education is in order, I am more concerned that their father's Hammers support may be genetic. Any advice wholly appreciated.

That's a lovely post Tweasels
some people find it hard to forgive

it's not really a question but I wonder if would beat Russell in a game of Scrabble. I'm very good at short words!

• if I would

You are often criticised for having money as if this detracts something from your actual words, from your ideas. Do people believe that David Cameron is more suited to represent us with his elite education and privileged friends. Or perhaps any of the other politicians spinning the facts so that we don't even know what they're talking about any more & stop trying.

I am astounded by how much abuse & contempt you get from the media (and even here, shame ladies) because you have money & fame. It's as if the only things that connects people is money & therefore you can only represent or identify with those at the same level of wealth as you! Would anyone listen to you if you were poor & had never been on the television any way? It isn't hypocrisy to want political change if you have some money, you can still care about how others are treated. It all saddens me that for some, there is much focus on who you are & what you have rather than on what you have to say.

My actual question is; how do you maintain a feeling of connection to us, to people, when you have so much vitriol directed to you? How do you rise above it & continue to believe in human nature & the innate goodness of people?

Thank you.

What's your view on the cancellation of the Dapper Laughs show?

There seem to be quite a lot of parallels with some of your most, um, controversial pranks and, as you'll have worked out from previous comments, some find your material similarly misogynistic.

Russell, you brighten up the world, and I think you're hilarious! In a good way! In a world full of bleak and boring and self-important talking heads it's nice to have a loose cannon thrown in for a bit of colour. I let it all wash over me, and it makes a nice change from the PC stuff. Anyway, my questions are: Europe - in or out? What would you suggest to Israel re: the overcrowding in Gaza (bearing in mind, of course, it's all carefully and cleverly funded by very rich guys from Quatar who may not actually want the conflict to end); Have you always felt comfortable in your own skin-do you feel grounded yet? Last question: why is homeopathy villified. In any order. In your own time. Thank you.

Suggest you read his first autobiography. It is searingly honest and if you don't feel any sympathy/empathy at all for a fellow human being quite clearly being insecure and vulnerable then you are a robot. As for good reasons to question length of sobriety I suggest you name them as that kind of accusation is libellous.

I just read a post further up the thread and I hadn't actually realised about some of the issues in your past. I must live in some kind of bubble. I'm sorry you had those things happen to you. My partner also suffered abuse (extreme physical abuse) from his father and in his late teens/early 20's spent a year in Abu Grab being tortured - he was a commando for Saddam Hussein and saw dreadful things - people being buried alive, awful stuff. He went to Abu Grab for refusing his orders, and by all accounts it was somewhat miraculous he came out at all. The story of his life is so dramatic and so awful. He obviously has PTSD - which, if the account on this forum is true, must surely be something you struggle with. How do you think you have managed to frame your life so that you are not a victim? I am currently separated from my husband as his negativity and the anger within was quite destructive to live with. Are you bigger than your story and your past or do you feel that has defined who you are? Do you think about these things strategically or do you just float? And I would be interested, genuinely, to know if you believe in God?

Tweasels, I believe women are better (generally) at processing emotional damage. Yes, that's very sexist. But it's my view. If you've managed to change yourself and your life for the better, good for you. To be honest I guess I shouldn't really be commenting on here, because I actually don't know a solitary thing about Russell Brand, apart from the odd comment or time I've seen him on TV and he's invariably made me chuckle. But the kind of environmental background you survived and made sense of , was not, from what you describe, exactly comparable with RB's and also, comparisons are odious....

Russell first off, I love you.
My question is, what would you suggest disabled people in the U.S. living on $700. do to improve their financial nightmare? They've not got enough to afford transport or food or other necessities which is even more difficult for the ill & handicapped.

Dear Russell, It was only a few months ago that I first was introduced to you, because of your political activism. I had not known anything of you prior, due to my aversion to the internet, TV, and popular culture in general. When I did finally hear you speak about the state of the world we live in, it did not take but a moment to know, you are for real. I have been a life long activist, 25+ years of living outside the system, and I feel as if you are an incredible power source of influence we so much need to make the change happen. I respect you so deeply for turning away from the life of blind ease. My background is similar to yours, we are on the same path. My question is... Do you plan to come to Oakland to meet with political activists here regarding #occupy and our other movements... and if so, will you please contact me?

Hi Russell.

I can't join in on the day, but I just wanted to say that you give great hugs and smell divine and your hair is soooooooo soft and shiny! thank you!!

Russell Brand for Prime Minister!

Jonathan Ross Show!

Solo all that dusting is clearly affecting your brain. Cease and desist!

What are you thinking?

Mind you, it would be hilarious if was PM?

Q for RB

Why do you speak in iambic pentameter?

Keepin' 'em guessing, is he for real, out on a limb? or in on the deal? Riding along on the crest of a wave, laughing and dancing and leading a craze, as he triggers a crave, this thread testifies that, the fortuitous result of his poppy appeal? How strange, how unreally real. Are we transcending? Is this a new phase? Did he catch the full blast of a new solar wave? In the liquid matrix concealing reality's once fixed point, shines a pin prick of light, something to head for, consistently emanating the highest frequency, something that's true, something that's sure.

Russell first off, I love you.
My question is, what would you suggest disabled people in the U.S. living on $700. do to improve their financial nightmare? They've not got enough to afford transport or food or other necessities which is even more difficult for the ill & handicapped.

There is way too much to say so I'll refer you to my two blog sites for later examination if you can but jot them down organismtheory.wordpress.com/ and tmartaacsms.wordpress.com/ both will consume you, organism theory proves we are not independently intelligent, only intellectual, and that we are in fact an organism that absorbs and reflects its environment. Hitler learned integration and normalization from Mussolini who learned it from Montessori who learned it from 2 French Revolution era Dr. The other one is more unusual and is an adaptation of a real existing political movement. That one is called The Methodological Approach Required To Achieve A Classless, Stateless, Moneyless Society for working people PleaSE REad them both, you wont ever forget it. My twitter handle is @jamesbilous Thank you

Hey Russell! Just want to know how it is going with the café and social enterprises you want to set up with the profits from "Revolution." This is a great idea. When can we stop by for a cup of coffee? Lots of love.

Hi Russell. What is your opinion of the BBCs lack of coverage of the Million Mask March, especially the blockading of Broadcasting House? Do you think it hurts their journalistic identity that we, the public, heard about this only from foreign or alternative news outlets?

Sort of related follow up. When you very kindly bought pizza for the #occupydemocracy people were you surprised that the boxes were confiscated by the police because they could have been used 'for shelter'? :o

Russell,

What (if anything) do you love about your (our) country?