Controversy at MTV awards

Russell Brand’s hosting of the MTV Video Music Awards has received mixed reviews – after his political jokes raised eyebrows amid the controversy-shy music industry.

The comic had been considered a bold choice to host last night’s awards in Los Angeles because he is virtually unknown status in America. But it was his opinionated material that caused the biggest stir.

In his opening monologue he blatantly urged: ‘People of America, please elect Barack Obama... on behalf of the world.’

He added: ‘Some people, I think they're called racists, say America is not ready for a black president, but I know America to be a forward thinking country, right, because otherwise would you have let that retarded cowboy fella be president for eight years? We thought it was nice of you to let him have a go because in England George Bush wouldn’t be trusted with a pair of scissors.’

Most of the audience cheered, although some remained silent, including Britney Spears, who in 2003 said citizens should ‘just trust our president’.

Speaking of Levi Johnston the boyfriend of vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter Bristol, Brand said: ‘That is the safe sex message of all time. Use a condom or become a Republican!’

Jake Coyle of the Associated Press news agency said: ‘Partisanship, of course, can hurt sales. But Brand was refreshingly ignorant of many of the concerns that keep the lips of American pop stars zipped.’

However, critical opinion was divided.

Doug Elman of the Las Vegas Review Journal wrote: ‘This was maybe the worst VMAs, celebrating its 25th anniversary. Brand was no Chris Rock or Kathy Griffin.’

Stacey Silberman of Hollywood Today wrote: ‘Brand may have missed a beat or two during while hosting. He seemed to miss the audience with his humor, insulting many stars in the audience and others too. He was not in the best of form, based on the audience response.’

He joked about his lack of fame in America, his flamboyant looks and sex – including making repeated jibes at teenage-friendly pop band Jonas Brothers, who wear ‘purity rings’ as a symbol of their vow not to have premarital sex, to the anger of some of those in the audience.

American Idol champion Jordin Sparks defended them: ‘I just wanna say, it's not bad to wear a promise ring because not every guy and a girl wants to be a slut, OK?’

And High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale told reporters backstage that Brand's jokes were ‘not really nice’.

When Brand came back on stage, he explained, semi-apologetically: ‘I’ve gotta say sorry because I said those things about promise rings; that was bad of me. I didn't mean to take it lightly, [but] a bit of sex occasionally never hurt anybody.’

Britney Speaks came out on Brand’s side, saying: ‘He’s done an incredible job.’

Brand had previously hailed the awards as a ‘launch of a very new Britney Spears era’.

‘Consider this the resurrection of Britney Spears. If there was a female Christ, it's Britney.’

Posters on internet forums were as divided as the critics, with comments ranging from ‘Russell Brand is incredible, he has more talent and charisma in his pinky finger than Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks and Paris Hilton’ to ‘Russell Brand is an self-impressed ass; his comments in general were crude and irresponsible’.

Some claimed Brand should not have commented on the presidential race as he’s not American, and should ‘go home’ if he didn’t like the state of the US.rn

Published: 8 Sep 2008