Russell Brand, the Intellectual?

We all know Russell Brand as a multi-faceted star. But many regard him as an intellectual? Find out why.

Russell Brand speaks in Parliament Square during a protest against the Conservative Government and it’s austerity policies in London on Saturday, June 20, 2015. (Photo: AP)

What is a comedian doing on a list of the world’s top intellectuals?

And that too at the fourth position?

Earlier this year, Prospect Magazine’s annual list of the world’s top 50 thinkers placed Brand at number four - above figures such as economist Paul Krugman and author Arundhati Roy, Henry Kissinger and others.

When he was being short-listed, the magazine said of him, “Dismissed by his opponents as a clownish opportunist, he is nevertheless the most charismatic figure on Britain’s populist left.”

After readers chose Brand as the fourth-best world thinker, the editor said,

This was voted for entirely by readers and does not represent Prospect’s views. Russell Brand has made an important contribution to conversation and ideas over the past year.
- Prospect editor Bronwen Maddox.

As a comedian I have to be attuned and be able to commentate on the things happening.
- Russell Brand

Rage Against The Machine

Brand’s image has often been bolstered by the matter-of-fact tough stand he takes during various interactions with the mainstream media, often involving the other person not taking Brand seriously.

Consider this.

In a 2013 interview on MSNBC’s show Morning Joe, Brand decided he’s had enough goofing around by the presenters and literally takes control of the show from its veteran hosts, lecturing to the “journalists” how to be professionals.

“Thank you for your casual objectification,” says Brand, after one of the presenters talks about him in the third person. After failing to draw the attention of the hosts away from his comedy and acting past to a more serious issue, he interjects,

That’s the problem with current affairs. You forget about what’s important and you allow the agenda to be decided by superficial information.
- Russell Brand

Following the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, Fox News’ veteran presenter Jeanine Pirro opened her show with a vitriolic monologue advocating violence. Watch Russell Brand’s fury unleashed against her and making a call for better understanding and peaceful solution.

Newsnight’s Jeremy Paxman is an anchor even a hardened politician won’t mess with. But not Russell Brand. Watch this video where Brand takes on Paxman’s typically rude and sneezing questions starting with, “Russell Brand, who are you to edit a political magazine?”

‘Brand’ing the UK Elections

Ahead of the UK elections, Russell Brand had encouraged potential voters to abstain from elections and to give up voting.

But in the last days of campaigning, Mr. Don’t Vote changed his mind and asked over a million of his Youtube subscribers (and anyone else listening to him in UK) to vote for the Ed Milliband’s labour party.

After David Cameron’s Conservative Party won, Russell Brand ended his short-lived career as a political pundit with this video.

The only currency we have is compassion and being nice to one another. We’re going to have no shortage of meanness over the next five years. There’s going to be meanness to the disabled, meanness to immigrants, meanness to the poor, so all we’ve got left is to be compassionate.
- Russell Brand

His last minute change of mind to switch from being the mascot of the “Don’t vote” brigade to becoming an advocate for Milliband’s labour party did not go down well with some fans. He has been called a turn-coat, sell-out and some other unprintable words.