In light of the ever-expanding wave of rape and sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand, I decided to revisit an interview he did on Woman’s Hour in November 2007. What was it about that encounter that left me with the impression that I hadn’t been conversing with a mere vulgar and clever individual, but rather with a deeply damaged and remarkably intelligent young man? I distinctly recall feeling a sense of pity for him.
By 2007, Brand’s promiscuity, heroin addiction, and subsequent treatment were widely known. He had been fired from MTV after showing up dressed as Osama Bin Laden. However, despite his reputation for debauchery, dirty jokes, and rebellious behavior, he seemed to be highly regarded by Channel 4’s Big Brother’s Big Mouth and BBC’s Radio 2.
At that point, he hadn’t yet disgraced himself alongside Jonathan Ross in a shockingly cruel and vulgar phone call to actor Andrew Sachs, involving Brand’s sexual encounter with Sachs’s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. Nor had he participated in a disturbingly friendly and congratulatory interview with Jimmy Savile.
Brand was invited to the program due to the release of his memoir, My Booky Wook. He had made an effort to present himself well, which I suspect was meant to impress me and reflect the quality of the program. He appeared in an immaculate white shirt, tailored black jacket and trousers, with a black scarf around his neck. His hair was neatly brushed, and his eyes showed no signs of the madness often seen in photographs. He expressed a peculiar interest in women during the interview.
When I asked about the rather twee title of his book, “My Booky Wook,” he quickly compared his work to Anthony Burgess’s “A Clockwork Orange” in an attempt to showcase his education and knowledge of literature. However, there is truly no comparison to be made from a literary standpoint. He didn’t seem bothered by the criticism.
I questioned why he dedicated the book to his mother, Barbara, but warned her not to read it. He described the book as an ode to his love for his mother and praised her for raising a son who didn’t care about his appearance. He acknowledged that certain parts of the book were cheeky or even reprehensible.
Brand revealed that he didn’t want his mother to revisit the scandal and disgrace she had faced as a single parent when his father, Ron, abandoned them. He believed she endured not only the stigma attached to being a single mother, but also frustration with her son’s behavior. Brand referred to himself as a twit and claimed to have an inquisitive mind with a peculiar interest in women. He explained that his mother had a group of friends and aunts, or “the Coven,” who supported her, giving him a keen awareness of femininity.
Throughout his childhood, women played a significant role. But what about his father? Brand’s father was the one who carelessly left pornography within reach of his young son. Brand admitted to being thrilled when he found the porn, considering it exotic and enticing.
The most shocking and disgraceful part of his book is the chapter about his trip to Thailand and encounters with prostitutes. He now condemns prostitution and acknowledges the moral questions it raises. However, as a teenager, he saw it as exhilarating and thought little about the exploitation involved.
Brand grew up with his macho father and his mother’s boyfriend, Colin, and rejected their style of masculinity. He preferred to embrace flights of femininity instead. Men like Brand are finally facing the consequences of having fathers who treated women terribly and escaped punishment. These men started their lives when lads’ mags and lad culture were considered amusing, but times have changed. It is no longer acceptable for men to behave this way. They should be taught the difference between femininity and feminism.
I cannot say whether Brand is guilty of the allegations against him, but I have always been an advocate for listening to women. They are speaking out now, and it’s imperative that both Brand and society listen to them.
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