Russell Brand Explains Anonymous Protest: I Believe in a Beautiful Revolution
Russell Brand has reprised his 'something must be done' call against democracy, hours after making international headlines by appearing at a protest organised by hacktivist group Anonymous.
Writing in the Guardian, Brand repeated his creed that democracy has failed and also revealed he fears he is a "sexist," following a bout of introspection.
Brand attended an Anonymous Bonfire Night protest march, where he wore one of the group's Guy Fawkes masks - but not over his face.
Brand renewed his condemnation of voting by insisting it changed nothing, and called for a "beautiful" revolution.
"The only reason to vote is if the vote represents power or change. I don't think it does," he told Guardian readers. "I fervently believe that we deserve more from our democratic system than the few derisory tit-bits tossed from the carousel of the mighty, when they hop a few inches left or right.
"The lazily duplicitous servants of The City expect us to gratefully participate in what amounts to little more than a political hokey cokey where every four years we get to choose what colour tie the liar who leads us wears."
Sexism and drug abuse
Brand admitted his views could come from some pretty unusual sources, saying: "It's quite possible that my opinions are a result of decades of drug abuse."
He also admitted that some of his views are quite old-fashioned, telling readers: "One thing I've learned and was surprised by is that I may suffer from the ol' sexism. I can only assume I have an unaddressed cultural hangover, like my adorable Nan who had a heart that shone like a pearl but was, let's face it, a bit racist.
"I don't want to be a sexist so I'm trying my best to check meself before I wreck meself. The problem may resolve itself as I'm in a loving relationship with a benevolent dictator and have entirely relinquished personal autonomy."
The TV funny-man sought to take down claims he is a "hypocrite" for slamming how wealth distribution works in modern society. Brand accumulated great wealth from films such as Arthur - where he played a drunken millionaire and which received a critical drubbing. He claimed the scourge of "capitalist fugue" was to blame for his poor choices during a lucrative career in entertainment.
"When I first got a few quid it was like an anaesthetic that made me forget what was important but now I've woken up. I can't deny that I've done a lot of daft things while I was under the capitalist fugue, some silly telly, soppy scandals, movies better left unmade.
"I've also become rich. I don't hate rich people; Che Guevara was a rich person. I don't hate anyone, I judge no one, that's not my job, I'm a comedian and my job is to say whatever I like to whoever I want if I'm prepared to take the consequences. Well I am."
Brand's recent outburst against democracy on Newsnight to host Jeremy Paxman has been watched millions of times on YouTube. Following the interview, he was seized upon as a spokesperson for disaffected citizens.
But the performance also drew condemnation, including from fellow comedian Robert Webb, who warned it was dangerous of Brand to encourage young voters to abandon voting.
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