Who’s laughing now? Russell Brand sat in as a guest on MSNBC’s Morning Joe show on Monday, June 17, but the fiery comedian was met with some rather unpleasant comments as he tried to promote his upcoming comedy tour, “The Messiah Complex.”
“Joining us now, he’s a really big deal — I’m told this, I’m not very pop cultured, I’m sorry — comedian, movie star, author and host of the show Brand X: Russell Brand,” co-host Mika Brzezinski introduced the funnyman, setting the tone for the rest of the oft-uncomfortable interview.
Brand, 38, looked visibly annoyed at the flippant introduction, but tried to stay as professional as possible during the beginning of the conversation. Fellow Morning Joe cohosts Brian Shactman and Katty Kay, however, were more intent on discussing Brand’s boots and his tendency to wear chest-baring shirts.
At one point, Schactman even commented that when he listens to Brand on the radio, he “can’t understand a single joke” he says.
“You know, funny, the accent,” Schactman said. “When I see him in person, it’s totally fine. Forgetting Sarah Marshall or the TV show, it’s fine, but on satellite radio in the car, I can’t understand a single joke you say.”
Brand, who was growing increasingly irritated by the journalists’ rude banter, replied that Schactman probably shouldn’t be listening to jokes while driving anyway.
Brzezinski, who had been sitting back for much of the boots discussion, at one point asserted that “this is my first Brand experience. It’s not listening to him, it’s the experience.”
“You’re talking about me as if I’m not here, as if I’m an extra-terrestrial!” Brand exclaimed. “You shouldn’t say ‘he’ when a person is present. You should refer to the person by their name. That is basic good manners. Is this what you all do for a living?”
Later on, Brand commandeered the show as the three anchors sat by and chuckled nervously.
“You don’t have to be superficial,” Brand lectured them. “That’s the problem with current affairs. You forget about what’s important, you allow the agenda to be decided by superficial information. What am I saying? What am I talking about? These things shouldn’t …these things are redundant, superficial. Don’t do that!”
