Rebutting Russell Brand

“Conspiracism is fascism’s fuel. Almost all successful conspiracy theories originate with or land with the far right.” So wrote Guardian reporter George Monbiot in his critique  of Russell Brand, published 10th March 2023. And he’s not wrong. But he’s not 100% right, either. Monbiot’s approach downplays both the prevalence and significance of conspiracy theories on the far left. It fails to acknowledge the damage that conspiracism does to the leftist cause. And it ignores the fact that wherever you think Russell Brand lands in the political spectrum today, he was radicalized on the left and by the left. 

 Russell Brand has presented himself as being a socialist, despite being a hoarder of wealth who, by his own definitions, uses that wealth to support the victimization of Palestinians! He has cast his lot in with propagandists and liars while accusing Western media of doing exactly that! And now, while claiming to be anti-war and anti-imperialist, he provides excuses for an authoritarian dictator who has embarked on a genocidal and imperialist war! So, what is up with Russell Brand’s Topsy-Turvy world?