Last night Russell Brand appeared in an interview with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight to discuss his forthcoming guest editorship of The New Statesman. And, today, EVERYONE is talking about it.
So what did we miss?
Well,naturally, Paxman decided to kick off the interview with the following question: “Who are you to edit a political magazine?”
And Russell's answer was nothing short of brilliant.
"Boris [Johnson] used to edit a magazine, didn't he? I'm a person with crazy hair and quite a good sense of humour. Don't know much about politics... I'm ideal."
Russell went on to explain how “disenfranchised” the people of “the planet” are, and that the world is on the brink of revolution. Why? Because, "for the first time in a generation", people are aware of “massive corporate and economic exploitation”.
Paxman's response? That Russell was being “vague” and “unspecific” about his idea of revolution.
Russell wasn't about take THAT lying down. Cue the sass:
"I look elsewhere for alternatives that might be of service to humanity. Alternate means, alternate political systems... I've not invented it yet, Jeremy. I had to do a magazine last week. I've had a lot on my plate!"
Saying that, he did have a good idea of what his revolution would look like, even if he hasn't planned exactly how he's going to go about it:
“I’ll tell you what it won’t be like - a huge disparity between rich and poor, where 300 Americans have the same amount of wealth as the 85 million poorest Americans, where there is an exploited and underserved underclass that are being continually ignored and where welfare is slashed while Cameron and Osborne go to court to defend the rights of bankers to continue to receive their bonuses. This has to be addressed.”
Paxman admitted that he didn't necessarily disagree with Russell, only to have the comedian-turned-revolutionary change his focus to… Paxman's beard. Yes.
"How comes I feel so cross with you? It can't just be because of that beard. It's gorgeous. And if the 'Daily Mail' don't want it, I do. I'm against them. Grow it longer. Tangle it into your armpit hair."
Cue Paxman sighing over Russell's triviality, which seemed to stoke the flames rising in Russell's soul. Cue a powerful and impressive final speech, which even referenced Paxman's appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?
"I remember I see you in that programme where you look at your ancestors. You saw that your grandmother got fked over by the aristocrats who ran her gaffe. You cried because you knew that it was unfair and unjust. And that was a century ago. That still happens now. I've just come from a woman who is being treated like that.**
"If we can engage that feeling, instead of some moment of sentimentality trotted out on the TV for people to pore over, emotional porn, if we can engage that feeling and change things, why wouldn't we? Why is that naive? Why isn't that my right, because I'm an actor? I've taken that right, I don't need the right from you, I don't need the right from anybody, I'm taking it."
Strong words, to be honest. Watch the interview in full for yourself: