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Here’s some photos of Russell Brand tooling around in Los Angeles over the past month or so. I especially like the photo of him outside yoga class while he’s talking to an older lady wearing a turban. There’ve been some whispers that she might be his new yoga instructor, which means that he may (or may not) have stopped attending classes with that sketchy Guru Singh, but that’s a whole other subject. Mostly with these pictures, I am affectionately observing how Russell constructs himself as a sartorial mess, and the only part that really bothers me is the barefoot-in-the-street thing. Gross.
Aside from his questionable attire, Russell is speaking out again on his experiences as an addict, and as always (especially during his testimony in front of Parliament), he’s quite eloquent and candid while doing so. No wonder Scientology wants him for Narconon, right? Not that he’d ever go there in a million years. But now Russell has filmed a new documentary for BBC Three, and his words are quite shocking for those who have not experienced the crushing grip of addiction, yet Russell’s admissions on the topic show that his struggle is very much a daily (even hourly) one:
Russell Brand is the subject of an upcoming documentary for BBC Three, entitled “Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery.” In the tell-all special, Brand reveals that he feels jealous of his old self when watching footage of him taking heroin.
According to The Sun, the shocking footage — of Brand smoking smack in his 20s — will be featured in the BBC film, which depicts Brand’s highs and lows as he recalls his drug-addicted past.
“This is when you know it’s a disease. It doesn’t matter that I was sat in that flat in Hackney and now I’m in the Savoy. I’m jealous of me then,” he tells his friend Martino Sclavi as he watches the homemade video at the London’s Savoy Hotel. “It doesn’t make a difference to me. The money, the fame, the power, the sex, the women – none of it. I’d rather be a drug addict.”
In April, the comedian and actor testified before a parliamentary committee reviewing U.K. drug policy to call for more “compassionate” action toward drug addicts.
“By regarding addiction as an illness, by offering treatment instead of a more punitive approach, we can prevent people from committing crimes,” Brand told members of Parliament, before opening up about his own struggles with heroin addiction. “Personally, I was a criminal when I was a drug addict by virtue of my addiction and the ways that I had to acquire money to get drugs.”
According to The Guardian, Brand testified to advocate for treating drug addiction as a health and social welfare issue rather than as a criminal one. Despite cracking a few jokes, Brand was serious in his plea. “I think there needs to be love and compassion for everybody involved,” said Brand. “If people are committing criminal behavior, then it needs to be dealt with legally, but you need to offer them treatment.”
Brand, who has been sober for nearly a decade, attends AA meetings three times a week in order to keep his addiction in check.
“To me, the gravity is heroin, and then death. You know, to sleep,” he told Details magazine last May, “that incremental suicide of turning your life into a dream, to make being awake as similar to sleep as possible. Drowsily, lazily, dry-mouth your way through the day’s ceremonies, fumble your way back into the dew-bather you never really left, draped in brown, brown now all around, the haze!”
[From Huff Po]
When Rusty admits that — despite all of his success and his current clean bill of health — he’s still jealous while watching his old self getting high while sitting in a decrepit old flat, that really puts an exclamation mark on it. Also, it’s easy to realize just how uncomfortable and disgusted he must have felt when Katy Perry giggled about being drunk onstage at an MTV awards show. And I’m not even bashing Katy for that anymore because obviously, they were from two different worlds and at very different phases in their lives. It just goes to show how Russell really needed to get out of that relationship for several reasons, not the least of which would be the temptation of giving in and snorting a line of coke with his “partying” wife.
Meanwhile, Russell has a brand new tattoo (and you can see a photo here), which reads “Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.” This is, of course, a take on the Catholic Prayer of Saint Francis, but it’s also a passage found in the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps book. Oddly enough, Russell’s tattoo includes a tiny cross, but I don’t think this is a case of him actually endorsing Christianity in any way. It’s confusing because of the cross imagery, but I think Rusty has a more holistic view of God and wraps his dieties into one package. In other words, he’s not going to start running around preaching to people about getting “saved.” This is an AA thing.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN
Written by Bedhead
Posted in Addictions, Katy Perry, Russell Brand
- Friends reunion on Ellen [Popsugar]
- Lindsey Vonn watches Tigers kids [Lainey Gossip]
- George Michael fell out of a car going 70mph [D-Listed]
- Real Housewives of Orange County recap [Reality Tea]
- New Man of Steel trailer [Pajiba]
- Jared Padalecki’s hot bod [Buzzfeed]
- Doctors confirm Taylor Swift’s new boobs [Evil Beet]
- Catherine Zeta-Jones finished treatment [CDAN]
- Anna Paquin hates the paps [Celebslam]
- Lance Armstrong is gross [The Blemish]
- What is Barbara Palvin wearing? [Moe Jackson]
- This is Petra Nemcova? [SVC]
He always looks dirty and sticky to me. Yikes.
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ahhh, ya gotta love crazy Dark Jesus for his openess.
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I do! and I love his ‘designer soles’ too!
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I prefer his “designer soul,” complete with matching tatoos.
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not big on his standup, but dude is very smart and eloquent. His piece that memorialized Amy Winehouse was so lovely and turned me into a fan.
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+1
I can’t help but like him. He seems smart, humble and kind. That’s a lot, regarding what he went through in life.
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+1
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I agree lola. I’ve grown to really dig “Rusty” over the last couple of years. I hate that he got pulled into that steaming pile of Dung Tom Cruise movie that I walked out of. .
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he seems very thoughtful, sensitive, and bright. how the hell did he end up with that immature, shallow pop girl??
she was so disrespectful in regards to his illness.
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How did he end up with Katy? Simple. Every man’s addiction, huge natural tatas.
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^^ So funny!
I really like Russell BUT if he liked Katy Perry enough to marry her then can he really be all that great? Even if it was just because he temporarily lost his mind and got sidetracked by ‘big natural tatas’?
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I REALLY take issue with the use of “disease” to describe drug and alcohol addiction. It’s an ADDICTION, not a DISEASE. Certainly it’s not easy to overcome and obsession or addiction, but the cure is highly simple — stop putting the sh-t in your body. Kudos to him for being strong enough to battle his addiction urges, but labeling it a “disease” is incorrect.
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it has been labelled a disease to help break down stigma. unfortunately, we obviously have a long way to go, as illustrated by your simplistic and out of touch response. the cure is anything but highly simple.
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Ditto on Jackie O’s response.
Canda doesn’t realise that it’s a mental disease, and that warrants as much attention and compassion as physical disease.
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Addiction IS a disease & has been recognized for a looong time
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Addiction = disease.
The other respondents have said it all, but I would like to add that you should consider yourself extraordinarily lucky, Canda, that you know nothing about this.
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dis·ease
noun /diˈzēz/
diseases, plural
1. A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, esp. one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury
2. A particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people
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Telling an addict to just stop is not helpful. Unfortunately, addiction is road you have to walk yourself in order to truly understand how much strength and, hopefully, support it takes to recover.
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It is a disease because curing it is not “simple”. Ceasing to put drugs or alcohol into your body does NOT “cure” the addiction. FFS, that’s what Brand is talking about right here. He will ALWAYS be addicted. It is a constant, daily battle whether you’re succeeding or not. There is no cure. Once an addict, always an addict. Some people quit, but they are still addicts, and usually the successful quitters realize that, have learned to manage/redirect the cravings, and have a strong support system around them to help them through difficult times.
You really need to educate yourself before spouting off such damaging, condescending nonsense.
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He is a super sexy beast.
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^perfectly put. I would have rambled on about his awesomeness, but you said it!!
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i love him
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Seriously, if this guy wasn’t plastered on every celeb website or not famous he would be another homeless looking grub. People please. He’s foul mouthed and creepy looking. “nuff said.
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That’s a really ignorant comment. You’re saying because he has long hair and a beard, and the fact that he uses swear words (gasp!), there couldn’t be anything worthwhile about him? Superficial much? It’s one thing if you’ve listened to him speak or read his book and determined that you don’t care for him, but to just dismiss someone on looks is so shallow. News flash, there are lots of incredibly smart and talented people who don’t dress in a conventional manner or fit your/society’s ideas of what’s attractive.
He’s managed to become famous because there IS more to people than how they look … I personally think he’s gorgeous but that’s not what makes him who he is. He’s eloquent, witty, and thoughtful, as well as being a kind, generous and decent person. He’s written books, he’s brought awareness to the condition of addiction … he’s just a really interesting,honest person with a lot of ideas to share. To me that’s more worth talking about than your average airheaded celeb who does nothing but look pretty.
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He is very eloquent, and he seems strong enough to to stick to his drug free lifestyle… also very self aware. Again, how the hell did he end up with that frilly moppet?
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turban lady is probably a kundalini yogi.
i appreciate brand’s sincerity.
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Ah, the jingly belt again. Real men wear jingly belts.
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I’m reading his first book in which he details his life during his addicted years. I am really surprised at how eloquent and smart he is. I didn’t expect that.
I’m happy for him that he has been sober for as long as he has been and is still fighting those demons.
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I’m waiting for his two books right now. The excerpt I read was indeed well written. I think his openness has to be helpful to others struggling with sobriety.
I don’t really care how he looks or dresses. He’s quite a refreshing change of pace in celebrity-land.
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I just cant do Russell anymore.. Watching whats happened between him and katy broke my heart.
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He’s a hypocrite. He married Katy Perry FFS! Sure he says a lot of things that are true, but I can’t stand his preachy I’m better than you attitude. Like, fine if you have found some peace of mind whatever, don’t go telling people that you know better than they do about how to live their lives. I saw his show and him and that creepy guy that was at the table to the side talk down to people. He is so superficial and shallow. Everyone knows about Katy and her partying. We’re supposed to believe he was totally clean while he was married 2 her?!!! At least she doesn’t make excuses about her lifestyle.
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Wow… You know it is entirely possible to be clean while your significant other nooses it up, right? I also don’t see a holier than thou attitude with him. Where does he tell other people how to live their life in this? The only advice he’s giving is to the government…
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Wow… You know it is entirely possible to be clean while your significant other nooses it up, right? I also don’t see a holier than thou attitude with him. Where does he tell other people how to live their life in this? The only advice he’s giving is to the government.
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+1.
Fo sho.
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I’ve always liked Russell Brand, fair play to him for being open about previous struggles and using them to help others in some small way (not that addressing parliament is a small feat).
But I can’t help but wonder, what the hell did he and Katy Perry talk about when they were done f*cking? Or is that what lead to the divorce?
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I was surprised watching his show BrandX. He is surprisingly smart, however, it is offset by looking like he needs to be dipped in bleach….If he cleaned up he could be kind of attractive. Still I do understand his need to escape his marriage, must be tough being married to a celeb who is at a different stage in her life…..Stay strong!!
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Damn it I love him for his frankness and advocacy efforts.
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The author seems threatened by the mere possibility that Russell might be Christian.
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@Lee No one is threatened. It’s only that he’s been a practicing Hindu for quite awhile now so I think there is some curiosity about what’s up with the cross and Saint Francis prayer.
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There was minimal “curiosity” in the post. There was some speculation, and then the quick assertion and assurance that ” … he’s not going to start running around preaching to people to “get saved.” This is an AA thing.” That seems much more like trepidation and denial than respectful curiosity regarding whatever Russell might or might not believe.
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I detected that too. Hindus believe in a supreme God over their other zillions of gods. Many other people do too, where it doesn’t fit into any particular known religious dogma. And it doesn’t mean that they are into converting people, just that they believe in God and the individual finds strength in it.
When your addiction is stealing away your life, or your parents’ or family members’ or children’s lives are suddenly in jeopardy, or a doctor looks you square in the eye and tells you you have cancer, most people will deign to get down on their knees and ask a higher power for strength, peace and healing, because they don’t have it all on their own and need assistance. It doesn’t suddenly turn them into bible-slamming fundies. God = Love, not judgment. Anybody that uses it to feel superior to others isn’t doing it right.
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Russell is a very intelligent, eloquent, thought-provoking guy. He is very honest about all of his daily struggles and I just love him for it. He isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.
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Despite the fact I don’t think he’s a very good actor or comedian, I do have a lot of respect for Russell. I applaud him for turning his life around and making the most of it. I also agree that we should have more compassion for those who are addicts.
In my life I’ve been a heavy drug user. However, I stop short of calling myself an addict because I do believe I stopped either before I became a full blown addict or just never had it in my DNA to be a full blown addict. I’m not sure which and I’ve never had an inkling to find out. I have a very hard time empathizing with the disease of addiction. It was easy for me to stop because I realize how badly my drug use was affecting my quality of life and hurting those around me. I didn’t want to continue down that path anymore. I was just…done. So, while I would never downplay anyone else who feels the way Rusty does, I just don’t get it.
While Russ seems to have a program that works great for him, I would like to mention that AA does not work for everyone. I think it is important for him and everyone to realize that there are alternatives to AA and 12 Steps and they need to be utilized. I personally have major issues with the 12 Steps and AA model as I think it needs to updated and tailored with current knowledge that we have of addiction. I just think it’s super important to realize that just because someone doesn’t respond to AA and 12 steps doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. It just means that the program isn’t right for them.
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Spot on. For all the claims about how 12 Step fellowships work for some people, the meetings are also rife with sexual predators and people who justify all sorts of toxic behavior by saying ah well at least I didn’t use/drink. Also why is Brand going to AA when he was a heroin addict? Shouldn’t he be going to NA ( narcotics anonymous)?
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Oh honey, you need to read his books. He was a pretty devout drunk too.
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Drinking and taking other drugs still makes him a better candidate for NA not AA. That said I think both fellowships leave a lot to be desired.
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Read “My Bookie Wookie” 4 years ago and have loved him ever since. So much spirituality and truth in that book. Russell understands that religion is NOT a substitute for God, good. AA provides a wonderful support system to those struggling hearts. Each day is “big with blessings”.
Sigh. I pity Katy Perry. John Mayer is a poor substitute for Russell.
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Downgrade, definitely.
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I can so relate to what he is saying about bein jealous of his former junkie persona.
I am a recovering addict. I was on a ” pain contract ” ( a doctors form of drug dealing ) for seven years after a couple of bad at accidents. I went from 60 Vicodin a month to 160 10mg Percocet a month plus 60 60mg OxyContin for break through pain. My monthly pills would last me a week tops then I was spending up to 3k a month buying more pills. When the pills didn’t work I thought ” hey .. Heroin is cheaper and easier to get.. I’ll just smoke that and save money ” .. So after 9 years and two rehabs I FINALLY had enough.. I’m seven months clean. During my addiction I never had more than two weeks clean. I am 99% ok now but evey once in a blue moon I crave so badly it hurts.. Figuratively. Sometimes I look back at my former junkie self and long for the days I could just smoke the pain away. Real life however hard is so much better.
Regardless of RBs personal drama , the fact he continues to be public about his addiction and an advocate for others makes him a hero in my eyes.
Only an addict can know the hell of early recovery and the bliss of surviving such a knarly disease. I hope in ten years I will have a voice and help others as well.
Namaste
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That is a very powerful story, thank you so much for sharing. And a HUGE KUDOS to you for being 7 months clean! That is a really big accomplishment. Sending some big hugs to you!
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Good for you! Congrats on your 7 months! Thank you for sharing. I work at a drug treatment and prevention agency and the public forgets that we are dealing with human beings – with lives. The community can be quick to write off an addict but it’s really a serious disease.
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Congratulations on your ongoing recovery and thank you for sharing!
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Wishing you strength, PdxBella.
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@ Tiffany – thank you!!! Interweb hugs make me smile:)
@leeloo – I completely agree about AA.. I tried it for a couple of months but it felt like dogma.. I read a bunch of SMART recovery literature that helped and I surrounded myself with good people. It’s amazing what you can do when your will is stronger than your disease. AA/NA was so not for me. Plus my pot smoking doesn’t fly there! Also.. Working out does has more benefits than any other program combined. Feel the pain get the gain!
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So glad that my post brightened you day, even if it was just a little bit. You deserve some sunshine, sweetie!
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@ Tiffany – thank you!!! Interweb hugs make me smile:)
@leeloo – I completely agree about AA.. I tried it for a couple of months but it felt like dogma.. I read a bunch of SMART recovery literature that helped and I surrounded myself with good people. It’s amazing what you can do when your will is stronger than your disease. AA/NA was so not for me. Plus my pot smoking doesn’t fly there! Also.. Working out does has more benefits than any other program combined. Feel the pain.. Get the gain!
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Love him…but in the first pic the pocket in the front pants made me laugh as I thought he had them on backwards! Perhaps I lack a sense of fashion?? LOL!
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In regards to his new Yogi, this article is really interesting. It may even deserve it’s own piece, there are so many gems! http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Entertainment/Celebrities/2012/Aug-04/183402-russell-brand-opening-own-yoga-studio.ashx#axzz22p3ALDZ8
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i hope he never succumbs to them again, and i’m not even a fan of his
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We don’t know if he has become Christian in his worldview. But he must be softening his attitude about Jesus if his new tattoo has a cross on it. I wish him well.
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He’s never been anti-Jesus to begin with. I’ve been a fan of him since his early days, and he always said he was “well into” Jesus. He didn’t identify as a Christian, and still doesn’t. But he’s open minded and is into spirituality in general. I think Bedhead is spot on when she says he has a holistic view of God and wraps his deities in one package. He’s always spoken about believing in “God” as a general thing but not necessarily being religious.
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Yum yum yum!!
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