Russell Brand's most disturbing interviews from stealing kiss to grabbing hosts
Russell Brand became known for his big television personality, with the comedian making jokes about having sex with multiple women and visiting "crack houses".
The 48-year-old actor has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse in a new documentary. The allegations were made in a joint investigation by The Times, The Sunday Times and Channel 4 Dispatches. He has vehemently denied the allegations.
After the allegations were made, many old interviews featuring the comedian have resurfaced online. In a number of TV appearances throughout his career, Russell made jokes about a range of topics from drug addiction to getting various women pregnant. Here, we take a look at some of his most controversial interviews.
Late Show with David Letterman, 2008
During an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2008, Russell Brand joked about having sex with women who believe he's gay. He also suggested he's made multiple women pregnant.
"In spite of appearances, I'm a heterosexual male," Russell told the talk show host. "Because I'm so well dressed, people think, 'He must be gay. Look at his wonderful haircut, he must be gay. Look how sensitive and vulnerable he is, he must be gay'."
Rita Ora performs in neon bridal veil and lace negligee after secret weddingRussell explains how that helps women to "feel safe around me." He then added: "They trust me, then bang pregnant, bang pregnant, bang pregnant. Another generation. We continue." Russell pointed his fingers like a gun to demonstrate his point.
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, 2008
Russell hosted the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, during which he made several references to the purity rings worn by the Jonas Brothers. Following the event, the comedian appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson where he discussed losing his own virginity.
"Now that I am allowed to have sex, I like it. I really like cuddling someone, squeezing, the boobs, bottom, just to cuddle up is so lovely," Russell told the talk show host. Craig then joked: "What about ladies, you ever have sex with ladies too?"
Russell laughed as he replied: "Oh no Craig, just the fellas, big pair of hairy boobs and a winky." Craig seemed shocked as he told the actor he wasn't allowed to say that on TV.
Craig then noticed Russell's trouser zipper, which had been sewn at an angle. The comedian explained: "It's on an angle like that to draw attention to it." After Craig said it had worked, Russell added: "That's stage one, now you've looked, you're already on the path."
The Get Him to the Greek actor then told the host he is "deeply spiritual" and believes in love. He added: "I don’t deal in hate, it's an unpleasant waste of our time." When Craig joked that Russell wouldn't enjoy Los Angeles, the actor chimed: "I've been able to convert love into sex with multiple partners for money."
60 Minutes, 2012
Liz Hayes was lost for words after interviewing Russell Brand on Australian TV show 60 Minutes. During the show, Russell had been driving them both around the studio in a golf cart, before he crashed into another cart.
As they stepped out of the car, Russell blamed Liz for the incident, saying: "Liz that's your fault because you took your eye off the road because things were getting a little fruity out there." He then said goodbye before turning around and kissing her on the lips.
Liz seemed shocked as she turned away from the actor. However, he continued to keep hold of her and again tried to kiss her. As Russell eventually turned to walk away, he said: "I can undo your bra just like this." Liz was left shocked as she tried to fix her underwear.
Speaking to the camera about the interview, the journalist said: "When Russell Brand decided he would like to kiss me, well, you know, you size up the situation, you think 'umm, am I in danger? What could go wrong?'"
Rita Ora draws attention as she shows off huge new tattoo across her ribcageMorning Joe, 2013
Mika Brzezinski joined her co-hosts to interview Russell Brand during a 2013 episode of Morning Joe. During the interview, she admitted she felt "embarrassed" by Russell's antics.
At the start of the broadcast, the comedian showed off his boots by placing them on the table and subsequently breaking it. Mika reached across to fix it, before Russell said: "Here you go love, be careful because that's a low cut dress."
She seemed awkward and apologised, before Russell added: "I'm only flesh and blood, I've got instincts." Later on in the show she had to pass to another presenter after becoming "embarrassed" by Russell.
As the broadcast came to a close, Mika was seen holding a water bottle. Noticing her, Russell said: "What do you think that gesture means the way you're touching that bottle, what does that indicate? What's the subtext of that. You need to lose that ring Mika because it don't mean nothing to you."
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 2013
Russell appeared on Craig Ferguson's show again in 2013, where the pair joked about how to establish a sexual relationship. As Russell touched Craig's leg, the host joked: "Kissing first then touching."
The comedian then pointed out that it was "an odd way to establish a sexual relationship, kissing before touching," before begging Craig to stop making him nervous to touch him.
The talk show star replied: "No, no, touch away, have a rummage, go on." Russell then felt Craig up and down, with the host joking: "You're not rummaging you're wiping!"
Elsewhere in the interview, Craig noted that wrestling was being removed as an Olympic sport. When Russell asked why, he explained: "They say it's not a sport, it's just cuddling with no clothes on." His guest quickly replied: "If there was an Olympic medal for that, then I should be surely adorned."
Late Show with David Letterman 2014
In a 2014 appearance on David Letterman's show, Russell was asked about his life before giving up drugs. He told the host: "Dave, 11 years ago when I was still taking drugs, I was a whirling psychotic, a frequenter of crack houses, whore houses, I was a lunatic. I was forever in jail cells, I was forever in all sorts of mischief, spraying blood everywhere, broken glass, crying women everywhere I went. But some nights I just stayed in."
He also opened up about his first experience with drugs, likening them to "lovers". Russell said: "Every drug I took, I greeted like a lover. The first time I had marijuana I thought that was magnificent, I loved it. The first time I took LSD, I loved escaping into the prism of new consciousness. When I first took heroin, it’s like a lovely, snuggly, warm cuddle that ruins your life."
David asked his guest if he had completely turned his back on drugs. Russell admitted the feelings which led him to take drugs cause him to "become obnoxious, difficult, a show off, self-involved, or overly kinky." However, he admitted: "But I found ways of resolving those problems, primarily through kinkiness."
The pair swiftly moved on to talking politics, with David asking Russell what he believed was the alternative to the current political system. The comedian replied: "I would say any issue that's bothering you if you feel like you’re paying too much rent, or you're not happy in the place that you work, collectivise, organise, like the gorgeous, hunky teamsters here I think should double as strippers of an evening."
The resurfaced videos come after Russell was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013 in a documentary. During this time, he was working for the BBC and starring in Hollywood films. Brand vehemently denies the claims.
Four women made the allegations in the documentary, which was an investigation by The Sunday Times and the Channel 4 show Dispatches, with the actor claiming all his relations were consensual.
In the programme, one woman alleged the comedian raped her "against a wall" in his Los Angeles home in July 2012. Brand has said he "absolutely refutes" the claims made against him.
In a video shared on YouTube after the programme was announced, titled 'So, This Is Happening', Brand denied the claims vehemently and described them as "a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks." He said that he "absolutely refutes" the accusations that "pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream". He also admitted to being "very, very promiscuous" in his early career.
"I don't mind them using my books and my stand-up to talk about my promiscuous consensual conduct in the past. What I seriously refute are these very, very serious criminal allegations," he said.
He added: "Also, it's worth mentioning that there are witnesses whose evidence directly contradicts the narrative that these two mainstream media outlets are trying to construct, apparently, in what seems to me to be a coordinated attack."
"Now, I don't wanna get into this any further because of the serious nature of the allegations, but I feel like I'm being attacked and plainly they're working very closely together. We are obviously going to look into this matter 'cause it's very, very serious. In the meantime, I want you to stay close, stay awake, but more important than any of that, if you can, please stay free," he concluded.