Russell Brand takes aim at ‘big pharma’ and claims CIA has infiltrated ‘legacy media’ in ranting performance at Nashville campaign event for presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy Jr
- The controversial comedian, who has been accused of sexual assault by five women, performed a short set in Nashville, Tennessee for Kennedy’s presidential bid.
Russell Brand appeared at a campaign event for Robert F Kennedy Jr., where he claimed that the CIA had infiltrated the media.
The controversial comedian, who has been accused of sexual assault by five women, performed a short set in Nashville, Tennessee for Kennedy’s presidential bid.
Mr Kennedy praised Mr Brand and the others who acted as “high priests of society”.
Mr Brand spread conspiracy theories that were welcomed by supporters of Mr Kennedy, one of America’s most prominent anti-vaxxers.
Mr Brand’s appearance came after his recent conversion to Christianity, which was marked by a baptism in the River Thames with TV adventurer Bear Grylls.
Russell Brand, 48, pictured performing at a fundraiser for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential campaign.
RFK Jr, who was considered an outsider candidate by many, previously appeared on Brand’s podcast
In his set, Mr. Brand talked about similar conspiracy theories as in his online TV shows and podcasts, in which he mocks coronavirus mandates and vaccine requirements.
Polls show Mr Kennedy, whose late father was attorney general during John F Kennedy’s administration, with about 10 percent of the vote in the presidential election, making him one of the most viable third-party candidates.
The event, called ‘Night of Country & Comedy’, lasted four hours and took place in front of an audience of approximately 2,000 people.
Tickets ranged from $24 to $57, with VIP seats costing up to $1,000.
Mr Kennedy arrived on stage at 11pm and gave a 12-minute speech in which he praised the comedians who performed for being “high priests of our society”.
In his set, Mr. Brand talked about similar conspiracy theories as in his online TV shows and podcasts, in which he mocks coronavirus mandates and vaccine requirements, reports The Tennessean.
To cheers from the crowd, he said: “This could be an important and interesting moment in your country, because this is a rebellious part of your country, isn’t it? You are rebels.
‘You don’t like being told what to do. You are anti-authoritarian people’.
Mr. Brand attacked the “hubris and grandstanding of traditional media organizations” and attacked their coverage of Mr. Kennedy by name.
One person in the audience called out the media by name and shouted back ‘f*** ’em’. Mr Brand made baseless claims that these outlets had ‘state support’ and said that ‘the big pharmaceutical companies were behind them’.
RFK Jr’s running mate Nicole Shanahan enjoys Rob Schneider’s set at the same show
According to Mr. Brand, “the CIA has always been deeply entrenched” in the media, another bizarre claim.
“It almost seems like there’s a mass media campaign going on against him (Kennedy),” Brand said.
Mr Brand made no mention of the allegations against him, which he denies.
Among the others, Nicole Shanahan, the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, spoke.
She said she donated more than $8 million to get Kennedy on the ballot in several states.
Mr Kennedy’s next challenge is to appear on the ballot for the first presidential debate in June, as it will currently only be between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.