October 25, 2013

Whatever one thinks of Russell Brand, his inspired rant on the BBC last night had people on both sides of the Atlantic talking on Thursday, with ideas that usually aren't aired, such as his absolute disdain for voting or the present sham of a political system in the UK and elsewhere which just doesn't address the problems of ordinary working people or the environment.

Via Digital Journal

Russell Brand gave an incredible powerhouse performance last night, during an eleven-minute interview with Jeremy Paxman on the BBC's flagship news programme.

Brand was being interviewed by Paxman on Newsnight, to discuss the actor-cum-comedian's stint as guest editor of the New Statesman.

The interview lasted for almost eleven minutes (10 minutes and 46 seconds, to be precise) and was summed up by Digital Spy as, "incredible [...] television [Brand going] head-to-head with Jeremy Paxman, managing to squeeze together a revolution rally cry, bemoan West Ham's recent form and discuss Paxman's beard in a breathless performance".

Brand's final assault came when he referenced Paxman's appearance on the BBC show, Who Do You Think You Are?, the popular British genealogy documentary series that, for each instalment, takes a well-known person from popular culture on a journey to trace her/his family tree.

Russell Brand laid it out in plainspoken english.

I remember I see you in that programme where you look at your ancestors. You saw that your grandmother got fucked over by the aristocrats who ran her gaffe. You cried because you knew that it was unfair and unjust. And that was a century ago. That still happens now. I've just come from a woman who is being treated like that.

If we can engage that feeling, instead of some moment of sentimentality trotted out on the TV for people to pore over, emotional porn, if we can engage that feeling and change things, why wouldn't we? Why is that naive? Why isn't that my right? Because I'm an actor? I've taken that right, I don't need the right from you, I don't need the right from anybody, I'm taking it.

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