Yes, But...

[poliphilo]

 Russell Brand was a debauchee. This is no secret. And we know that his behaviour back then was less than gentlemanly because some of it played out in front of recording devices. He was sex-mad, alcohol fuelled and drug-crazed- and if some of the mean, cruel and abusive things he did crossed the line into illegality that shouldn't surprise us. But what he used to be doesn't negate the importance of the work he is doing now- giving a platform to righteous alternative voices- and the suspicion has to be strong that his past is only being forked over because he has made enemies of the powerful people for whom the mainstream media works...

Comments

[tagryn]

I have to wonder, though, that if he wasn't a darling of what passes for "counterculture" these days and bad been brought up on the same charges, would there be much of an outrage or would it be more "yep, another celebrity trying to use their fame and fortune to dodge responsibility for their actions" and/or "believe the victim"? Being a public figure works both ways.

[poliphilo]

Brand is unique. He's shifted from gifted entertainer to counter culture journalist/significant political figure. He matters. And so the drama in which he is now being engulfed matters too.