The failed attempt of Russell Brand at humour was offensive last night at the MTV Video Music Awards. If he was trying to break into the America market because he is not well know he took the wrong path. If he thinks he can come to the United States and ridicule the American president he is in the wrong country. Bush whether you like him or hate him is still the person American’s chose. People came to the awards and tuned in to see the celebrities and hoped for a decent show, instead what they got was a attention seeking ridiculous looking person spewing his one sided, biased comments about American Politics at an awards show.
Some of his less than witty comments were:
Now, as a representative of the global community and a visitor from abroad, I don’t want to come across a little bit biased, but could I please ask of you people of America, to Please Elect BARACK OBAMA. Please! On behalf of the world. (Camera pans to singers Chris Brown and Britney Spears applauding and cheering.) Some people, I think they’re called racists, say that America is not ready for a black president. But I know America to be a forward-thinking country, right. Because, otherwise, you know, would you have let that retarded cowboy fellow be president for eight years?
We were very impressed. It was nice of you to let him have a go. Because in England, George Bush wouldn’t be trusted with a pair of scissors.
I am obliged by broadcasting law to show some balance in this situation, which means, uh, the Republicans might be alright. Sarah Palin. She’s a VILF! A vice president I’d like to…fumble, fondle, I dunno. I do feel a little bit sorry for her daughter, getting pregnant, poor kid. Is it a boy? Is it a girl? It’s a P.R. stunt. Come on. Be honest.
And I feel most sorry for that poor teenaged father. Boy. One minute, he’s just a teenaged lad in Alaska having joyful, unprotected sex. And the next minute: Get to the Republican convention. I think that is the best safe sex message of all time. Use a condom or become Republican! …That boy will spend the rest of his life masturbating while wearing a condom…
…New music, new president, and brand new America. And you people deserve it after eight years of Bush. I promise you, you deserve it…
Members of the studio audience looked horrified at Brand’s jokes. Everyone was out for a celebration and Russell tried to turn it into a Republican bashing rally. Sure everyone is allowed their opinion, but this was not a comedy show, it was not the Russell Brand show, it was an event with many people of diverse political views.
It’s a sad reflection on the absurdly high level of disrespect in public discourse that a joyous music and film oriented spectacle was allowed to be hijacked by Brand and turned into bashing a President of the United States and over the top promotion of ONE political party.
the_riotgirl
September 8th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
though i do agree with your point, that a show host of a music show should not brabble about his personal political beliefs and he was therefore totally out of place with his statement, i want to point out 2 things:
1) bushie WASNT elected by the majority of the americans.
i know nationalism does that to people, once someone from abroad has a legitamate critic about something, you start to immediatly defend things you would otherwise oppose to yourself. im from austria, and the same thing happened here when our goverment got critised for forming a coalition with a very right wing party. suddently them being in power wasnt the problem anymore, but that someone not austrian dared to critize “us”.
2)what i want you to keep in mind is that his point of view is broadly shared by the vast majority of europeans.
international news are always very fact-oriented and if you think how the picture would have been without fox news and murdoch media bedimming your heads, you must admit that there werent any “good” news about bush - your national interest are of no concern to the rest of the world, naturally.
So i do believe, that Brand didnt even think that there would still be anybody left, who would not laugh about jokes about that guy,….
still, his biased jokes about politics were simply out of place there.
Dan Fraley
September 9th, 2008 at 12:16 am
I think the bigger issue is who in the hell is Russel Brand and what has he done to deserve his celebrity? I still have no clue who he is and why I should really give a crap.
vitriol
September 9th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Russell Brand is one of a microcosm of over-hyped celebrities in the UK that appeal to the lowest common denominator. His over-saturation of the UK media via reality TV, a cheesy book launch (apparently an absolute shit read) and low-rent chat shows led to eventual indifference and boredom by the general public - so now his agent has decided the US of A should be his next ‘conquest’.
And I see he’s off to a good start too, doing his usual job of endearing himself to his public.
When the US grows tired of his “little Dickensian charm’ I suggest they just put drop the irritating prick off at their usual destination of choice for undesirables - Guantanamo Bay?
Jody
September 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
If either Bush Sr. or Jr. came to my front door I’d open it and welcome them in. On the other hand, if this FUGLY Brand showed up he’d only get through my door by force. Imagine seeing this moron staring at you on the street? You run or hide or prepare for assualt. This freak of nature tries to ridicule the President? And this is who the show hired? Wow - talk about a no-class bum on a no-class show.
Pusscat
September 11th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
If these responses, repesent a typical American opinion
then its no wonder that, as a nation, you can be ridiculed and vilified worldwide. Iam not an anti American, but you do make it difficult to defend yourselves! Absolutely no sense of humour whatsoever! Can’t you see that Bush is a JOKE! He has no credibility beyond your shores! Russell Brand is quick witted and highly intelligent, unfortunately qualities which are unappreciated by many of y’all! Please, broaden your horizons and learn to take a joke! BTW Brand’s book (which I have read, unlike the previous poster) was well reviewed and an entertaining and articulate read. I recommend you try it when you’ve evolved.