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Entertainment | 09/08/2008 12:30 pm

VMA Host Russell Brand Comes Under Fire for Making Fun of Purity Rings, Palin's Pregnancy and Republicans

By The Staff at wowOwow.com
VMA host Russell Brand /Wikipedia.com

British comedian Russell Brand, who hosted the 25th MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night, left the crème of the music world stunned as he made a series of political, sexual and off-color remarks throughout the evening.

Despite not being an American citizen and therefore ineligible to vote in the 2008 presidential election, the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" funnyman encouraged Americans to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the upcoming election; ran down President George W. Bush; poked fun at Sarah Palin’s daughter’s pregnancy; and made lewd jokes about the Jonas Brothers’s purity rings.

The Associated Press reports Brand said in his opening monologue: "Please, America, elect Barack Obama. On behalf of the world."

Some in the star-studded crowd cheered, while others — like Britney Spears, who walked away with three awards — sat quietly.

He also referred to George W. Bush as a "retarded cowboy fella" and took a shot at Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter. Speaking of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s daughter’s boyfriend and the reported would-be father, Levi Johnston, Fox News reports Brand saying: "The safe-sex message is to use a condom or become a Republican!"

Besides his outlandish, politically charged remarks, Brand’s running theme for the evening centered around the boy band with the pastor dad, the Jonas Brothers, and their purity rings — until "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks stepped on stage to have her say about his constant remarks.

"Not everyone wants to be a slut," Sparks, 18, spat back, the auditorium filling with applause.

Brand was quick to apologize for any hurt feelings, but only to a degree.

After the show, Brand, a former sex addict, told the Associated Press, "I feel a bit bad that I kept talking about their vows to chastity and I’d like to take this opportunity to say no one ever have sex again. It’s a mad idea. What a way to spend an evening."

And many thought that Britney Spears was going to be the one who caused a scene …

22 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

DianaT
This is news? He doesn’t look like someone I want to validate. I’m proud of myself; did not use one derogatory term…..
By DianaT on 09/08/2008 1:53 pm
BelindaJoy
I watched the VMA’s and thought he did a wonderful job hosting. He was entertaining and controversial which are two important components for being a host of an entertainment awards shows. You keep your live audience awake and involved and you say just enough to result in news coverage the next day…the buzz as they say. He scored on both fronts.
By BelindaJoy on 09/08/2008 4:01 pm
LynnMarie
I like to watch the MVA to keep up with the times…… ah ———do we need people from ENGLAND coming here and telling us ANYTHING???NO! He was a little offensive -yes-but-thats what he gets PAID to be by us AMERICANS???
By LynnMarie on 09/08/2008 4:19 pm
LorraineBates
I just thought he wasn’t very funny.
By LorraineBates on 09/08/2008 6:34 pm
HoboQuestioningAlmostEverything
I’m sure the people he attacked are just ROTFLOL! I know you would be if it was you….right?
By HoboQuestioningAlmostEverything on 09/08/2008 8:41 pm
JohnUsher
A little offensive is and understatement, this man; if you can call him that. belittled our country, not just the Bush administration. I am sickened not by the Jonas brother comments as those who put themselves in the hollywood spotlight are subject to that sort of scrutiny, however this is our country and weather you are republican, democrat, or independent, you are American first shame on all of you who applauded this outsider as he got paid probably more money to make these comments then 95% of the registered voters who will be voting in this upcoming election!!!!
By JohnUsher on 09/08/2008 9:18 pm
KO1
Hello John, Here on this site for women over 40, we welcome Democrats, Republicans and discussion of weather - although I believe our discussion of weather is on the thread covering the threat of Hurricane Ike. Such a learned contributor you are! Where did you obtain your information regarding the earnings of 95% of the registered voters, if I may ask?
By KO1 on 09/08/2008 10:03 pm
JohnUsher
sorry for the typo, maybe you didn’t learn to read good enough to see that it wasn’t a informed comment as I indicated by the use of the word “PROBABLY
By JohnUsher on 09/08/2008 10:12 pm
KO1
Hi John, My apologies for not having learned to read good enough.
By KO1 on 09/08/2008 10:22 pm
AdamMayhem
Learned to read good enough ROFLMAO! I believe the term you were looking for John was she did not learn to read well. Political Humor at its Finest! http://www.barackobamasworld.com
By AdamMayhem on 09/08/2008 11:04 pm
DianaT
Gee, Kitty, I didn’t know you couldn’t read. Could’ve fooled me.
By DianaT on 09/10/2008 1:41 am
BigKingBud1
Is it just me or does this dude need to take his stupid hair and all the stupidness that seems to be his personality and ship himself back to where he came from ,in a box ,UPS ground!………………………………………………………………………..run my name in yahoo search,yahooooooooooooooo!
By BigKingBud1 on 09/08/2008 10:50 pm
LauriePattonGlasson
Kitty…you are my hero. Hilarious. John, Russell Brand is actually a great British comedian and actor. With a name like Usher one might think that your family came from Britain not too long ago. Brand actually hosted the British music awards in ‘07 and was equally as “shocking” then, in his own country. Of course, just like ‘Changing Rooms/Trading Spaces’ we follow the British in quite a lot. For God’s sake, if you, or anyone else is looking for something to be outraged about there are certainly better things to be upset about that the VMAs. How about starving children or the number of kids in foster care? Save being sanctimonious for something that, at least, counts.
By LauriePattonGlasson on 09/08/2008 11:12 pm
JohnUsher
oh and by the way, There has been a Usher in every war this country has fought since the French and Indian war. so I would say Usher at least my family tree is steeped in American Values, and just because someone is a funny comedian doesn’t make it right for him to tell the people of our country what we should do!!!!
By JohnUsher on 09/09/2008 2:08 am
JohnUsher
Laurie, The thing that scares me the most about this country it is how easy people are swayed by miss informed celebs, especially those whom are not from this country.Look, poverty, starving children, homelessness, unemployment are issues both dems and republicans can agree that need change, however too many people that I encounter on a day to day basis are very miss informed. I was outraged by the Americans who were applauding this man. not so much by his outrageous comments.American issues are best kept between American people.
By JohnUsher on 09/09/2008 2:03 am