History of Russell Brand in Timeline

Russell Brand is an English comedian, actor, podcaster, and media personality. He gained initial recognition as a stand-up comedian, radio and television presenter in the UK, notably as the host of 'Big Brother's Big Mouth.'

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2004: Recovery after being ejected from the Gilded Balloon

Russell Brand was ejected from the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh. Following a subsequent show in the city in 2004, a reviewer noted that "you'd rather hug him than hit him", signifying his embrace of recovery. He revealed stories about his past drug use, including introducing his dealer to Kylie Minogue during his time at MTV.

2006: Complaints while at BBC Radio

From 2006 to 2008, Russell Brand received two complaints while he was a BBC radio host and presenter of both sexual misconduct and unprofessional workplace behaviour.

2006: Dannii Minogue's allegations of sexual harassment

In a 2006 interview, Dannii Minogue stated that Russell Brand had sexually harassed her after she appeared on his TV show, calling him a "vile predator" who "wouldn't take no for an answer".

2007: Exchange with Jimmy Savile on BBC Radio 2

In 2007, on his BBC Radio 2 comedy show, Russell Brand called Jimmy Savile and asked to meet him. Savile's response included a condition about Brand bringing his sister. The exchange was featured in the 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.

2007: Alleged assault at the Lowry Hotel

In 2014, former girlfriend Jordan Martin said Brand had committed sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse during their six-month relationship in 2007. She accused Brand of assaulting her at the Lowry Hotel in Salford when he became angry after discovering she had spoken to an ex-boyfriend.

2008: Complaints while at BBC Radio

From 2006 to 2008, Russell Brand received two complaints while he was a BBC radio host and presenter of both sexual misconduct and unprofessional workplace behaviour, with a further six complaints received afterwards.

2008: Examination of the 2008 financial crisis in "The Emperor's New Clothes"

The documentary, "The Emperor's New Clothes", released in April 2015 examines the 2008 financial crisis and global economic inequality. The film features archival footage and appearances by Brand in London and New York City.

2009: Fundraisers for Focus 12

In 2009, Russell Brand organised three fundraisers in London, Dublin and Belfast for Focus 12, a drug treatment programme and rehabilitation charity that he was a patron of. He also acted as a "sponsor" for numerous people during their rehabilitation.

September 2010: Arrest for allegedly attacking a paparazzo

On 16 September 2010, Russell Brand was arrested on suspected battery charges at Los Angeles International Airport. He allegedly attacked a paparazzo who blocked his and then-fiancée Katy Perry's way to catch a flight. Brand was released the next day after posting US$20,000 bail.

March 2012: Arrest warrant issued in New Orleans

On 15 March 2012, an arrest warrant was issued for Russell Brand in New Orleans. The allegations were that he threw a photographer's mobile phone through a law firm's window. Brand, who was filming a movie in New Orleans at the time, voluntarily appeared at a police station and offered to pay for the window's replacement.

September 2013: GQ Awards "Oracle" award acceptance speech

In September 2013, during his acceptance speech at the GQ Awards after receiving the "Oracle" award, Russell Brand mentioned Hugo Boss's past involvement in making uniforms for the Gestapo. Brand jokingly commented on the Nazis' appearance and goose-stepped across the stage. He was ejected from the event after GQ editor Dylan Jones deemed the speech "very offensive".

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October 2013: Guest-edited special issue of the New Statesman

In October 2013, Russell Brand guest-edited a special issue of the New Statesman focused on revolution. In this issue, he expressed his objection to the destruction of Earth due to greed and exploitation. He advocated for a change in consciousness alongside political and economic actions to secure a more sustainable future.

October 2013: Newsnight interview

In October 2013, Russell Brand was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on BBC's Newsnight, where he criticized the British political system and discouraged voting. He stated he has never voted and never will. Paxman questioned Brand's call for "revolution" given his lack of participation in the electoral process.

2013: Guest-edited special issue of the New Statesman

In 2013, Russell Brand guest-edited a special issue of the New Statesman focused on revolution. In this issue, he expressed his objection to the destruction of Earth due to greed and exploitation. He advocated for a change in consciousness alongside political and economic actions to secure a more sustainable future.

January 2014: Invited by the Cambridge Union Society

In January 2014, Russell Brand was invited to participate in an interview by the Cambridge Union Society. Also in 2014, Brand launched his YouTube series The Trews: True News with Russell Brand.

June 2014: People's Assembly Against Austerity

In June 2014, Russell Brand participated in the People's Assembly Against Austerity, which involved around 50,000 marchers from the BBC office to Westminster. Brand spoke to the crowd, asserting that politicians represent big business rather than the people, and advocated for reclaiming power and implementing existing beneficial ideas.

October 2014: John Lydon criticizes Brand's advocacy of non-voting

In October 2014, coinciding with the publication of Brand's book Revolution, John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) described Brand's promotion of non-voting as the "most idiotic thing I've ever heard".

November 2014: YouGov poll

In a November 2014 YouGov poll, Russell Brand was identified as the celebrity with the most negative influence on political debate (46%). The poll also indicated that 60% of participants disliked him, while 28% liked him.

November 2014: Russell Brand: End the Drugs War documentary

On 26 November 2014, BBC Three aired a documentary commissioned by Russell Brand about the global "war on drugs". Titled Russell Brand: End the Drugs War, the film explores alternative drug policies from various countries to find a more compassionate approach towards drug users. Brand emphasized the pragmatic nature of compassion.

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December 2014: Protest over rent increases at the New Era housing estate

On 2 December 2014, Russell Brand joined East London residents in protesting against rent increases at the New Era housing estate. During the protest, a Channel 4 News reporter questioned Brand about the value of his rented property, leading to Brand calling the reporter "snide", and the clip going viral on YouTube.

2014: Jordan Martin's accusations of assault and abuse

In 2014, former girlfriend Jordan Martin said Brand had committed sexual assault and physical and emotional abuse during their six-month relationship in 2007.

January 2015: Insulting Ed Balls on Channel 4's Big Fat Anniversary Quiz

In January 2015, during the Channel 4 show Big Fat Anniversary Quiz, Russell Brand insulted politician Ed Balls, who responded by calling Brand a "pound shop Ben Elton".

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March 2015: Opening the Trew Era Cafe

In March 2015, Russell Brand announced the opening of the Trew Era Cafe in the London Borough of Hackney. The café, funded by his Revolution book, would employ recovering drug addicts. It opened on 26 March 2015. In March, readers of Prospect magazine voted Brand the fourth-most influential thinker in the world.

March 2015: Premiere of "Brand: A Second Coming" at SXSW

In March 2015, the documentary film Brand: A Second Coming, which explores Russell Brand's journey into political activism, premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.

April 2015: Premiere of The Emperor's New Clothes at the Tribeca Film Festival

On 24 April 2015, The Emperor's New Clothes, a documentary produced by Russell Brand and directed by Michael Winterbottom, premiered internationally at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film uses archival footage and Brand's appearances in London and New York City to examine the 2008 financial crisis and global economic inequality.

April 2015: Published interview with Ed Miliband

On 29 April 2015, Russell Brand published an interview with Labour leader Ed Miliband on an episode of The Trews. Miliband participated to appeal to non-voters like Brand, while David Cameron dismissed the interview as a "joke". The following day, Brand released an interview with Green Party leaders and endorsed Caroline Lucas.

2015: Endorsed Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn

In 2015, Russell Brand released additional material from his discussion with Ed Miliband and stating "I think we've got no choice but to take decisive action to end the danger of the Conservative party". He dropped his anti-voting position and "declared the importance of voting", backing Labour and later endorsed Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election.

2018: Focus 12 charity closes

In 2018, Focus 12, the drug treatment programme and rehabilitation charity where Brand received treatment, closed. Brand was a patron of the charity after his own use of the service.

September 2021: Bypassing COVID-19 safety measures

In September 2021, Russell Brand told people attending his tour how they could bypass COVID-19 safety measures.

September 2022: YouTube video removal

In September 2022, YouTube removed one of Russell Brand's videos, citing its policy on medical misinformation. Following this, Brand moved his channel to Rumble, where he launched a new daily live show, Stay Free with Russell Brand.

2022: Comments on the World Health Organization's pandemic treaty meetings

In 2022, Russell Brand reacted to the World Health Organization's meetings on the pandemic treaty, saying "Your democracy is fucking finished" and that the world had "lapsed into a terrible technocratic, globalist agenda".

March 2023: Finn McRedmond describes Brand's political views

In March 2023, Finn McRedmond of The New Statesman described Russell Brand as having melded his "trad-socialist values" with "all the suspicions and anxieties of the new American right".

2023: Exchange with Jimmy Savile featured in Channel 4 documentary

The 2007 exchange between Russell Brand and Jimmy Savile was featured in the 2023 Channel 4 Dispatches documentary Russell Brand: In Plain Sight.

May 2024: Comedy set for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign

On 15 May 2024, Russell Brand performed a comedy set at a campaign event for presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for which he received approximately $70,000.