According to a report from the Daily Beast's Cheyenne Roundtree, comedian and actor Russell Brand -- whose star had diminished considerably over the past few years -- has found new life as a purveyor of anti-vax conspiracy rumors.
The comedian who once took on Donald Trump early in his presidency now is catering to a new fan base made up of conservatives and the anti-science crowd with a series of alarmingly popular YouTube videos with titles like "Thought Biden Couldn't Sink Any Lower?? THINK AGAIN!!," and "SHOCKING Wuhan Evidence: Did Fauci LIE?" while asking his fans if he should make appearances on Fox News.
As Roundtree writes, "Brand has struck a viewership goldmine with his videos. His videos, which appear to be monetized, often rack up millions of views across YouTube and Facebook, and his comment sections have become hotbeds of misinformation. His viewership has railed against Dr. Anthony Fauci, mocked the phrase 'follow the science,' talked about microdosing with ivermectin, and claimed loved ones had passed away as a result of getting the vaccine."
Noting that Brand's YouTube channel has "long been a haphazard and rambling space where the comedian posted conversation-style videos," the Beast's Rountree adds that the actual anti-vax videos are not as over the top as their titles promise, but that they still feed into popular conspiracy theories that are keeping people from getting vaccinated or wearing masks.
According to the report, "A December 2020 video titled, 'Covid Vaccine - Skepticism or Trust?,' released just as the vaccine was rolling out in the U.K., saw Brand airing a series of clips of vaccine skeptics being interviewed on the street, before sharing, 'I'm certainly by no means saying 'Don't take a vaccine," neither am I saying 'Do take a vaccine'" and railing against an increase in 'government authority' and decrease in 'personal liberties' that is 'concerning.'"
In an interview, Dr. Sadiya Khan, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said Brand has a right to his opinion but he is treading dangerously close to spreading more misinformation.
"I think it's really important for everyone to think for themselves," she explained. "I am not frustrated at all by individual-level questions, by individual-level discussion, or making sure that individual concerns are addressed. What's frustrating is when there is not rational conversation, when there is misinformation, or blatant lies as related to the FDA approval."
Dr. Rebecca Weintraub, an assistant professor in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School concurred.
"There has been both a mistrust in science and a politicization of this pandemic. We understand why folks are questioning and asking good questions about the vaccine. We are recommending that folks initiate a conversation with a provider they know to speak directly with a provider who's trained as a clinician," she explained.
The Beast's Roundtree added, "For a celebrity such as Brand with millions of followers, Weintraub says he has taken on the responsibility of giving accurate info to those looking to him for advice. But she says that experts are more than happy to help out and come on his platform to make sure his followers have the best information available."
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