Russell Brand Speaks out Against Pornography and Fifty Shades of Grey

Russell Brand
Russell Brand teams up with the Fight The New Drug organization to talk about the harmful effects of pornography. Photo: Russell Brand

The fight against the harmful effects of pornography on the family has just earned an unlikely ally: Actor and comedian Russell Brand.

Brand speaks up against pornography in a new video he released on his YouTube channel that was featured on the Fight The New Drug website earlier this week. FTND is an organization set up to spread awareness of just how damaging pornography can be to relationships, families, and a person's brain. The group uses scientific evidence to prove the harm, instead of approaching it from a religious or moral perspective which has often made awareness too niche in the past.

"We are the first generation in the history of the world to face the issue of pornography to this intensity and scale," the organization's website states. "We're also the first generation with a scientific, fact-based understanding of the harm pornography can do. With that knowledge, we feel the responsibility to share with others that porn harms the mind, damages relationships, and affects society. Our movement uses nothing but science, research, and personal accounts to bring this issue out into the open and get people talking about something that has previously been considered taboo."

Russell Brand is best known for his work as a stand-up comic, MTV and radio show host, and actor. His use of illegal drugs and alcohol has defined the British comedian since his debut, and he is notorious for stirring up trouble with most projects. He was fired from London's Indie Rock station Xfm for reading pornographic material on the air, which makes this most recent collaboration with FTND all the more interesting.

"Sex is something that we're all interested in because of biological programming, but our attitudes toward sex become warped and perverted and have deviated from its true function as an expression of love and a means to procreation," Brand said in the video, part of his year-old YouTube show called The Trews.

"I was obsessed with porn when I was a teenager," Brand admits. "We had to find magazines and steal things from under beds, so living in this culture now where there's just icebergs of filth floating through every house on wi-fi is inconceivable at what it must be like to be a young adolescent boy with this kind of access to porn."

Brand goes on in the video to quote several studies that point to the fact that we're just now really discovering the harmful effects of pornography on you people and their later relationship, and the full scope is yet to be realized.

"I feel like if I had total dominion over myself, I would never look at pornography again," Brand admits as he further explains that even softcore porn can act as a gateway to something much larger. In this example, Brand names the recently released Fifty Shades of Grey as something harmful to society and the increasing objectification of women that is perpetuated by pornography.

"This sort of cloud of pornographic information in even soft cultural smog, like Fifty Shades of Grey... is making it impossible for us to relate to our own sexuality and our own psychology and our own spirituality."

While Brand is almost ironically making his rant while shirtless and sitting in his bed, his message is powerful and accurate, and he even admits that he's still struggling with porn addiction himself. Be sure to check out the entire video below.

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.