Conspiracy theorists defend Russell Brand, claim he’s targeted for calling out mainstream media and big pharma

In the midst of the allegations against Russell Brand, a conspiracy theory has gone viral defending the actor and comedian.

Screenshot of Russell Brand on the Real Time with Bill Maher show.

Conspiracy theorists have bizarrely claimed that Russell Brand is being “targeted” for criticising big pharma during a talk show slot earlier this year.

Brand, 48, has been accused of rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment by four women, with allegations spanning a seven-year period during the height of his fame from 2006 to 2013.

Police are not presently investigating this and he hasn’t been charged with any crime.

The British actor has vehemently denied the “very serious criminal allegations” against him and claims they are part of a “co-ordinated attack” by the media.

In the wake of the allegations, a viral clip on Twitter has surfaced of Brand appearing as a guest on the Real Time with Bill Maher show in March.

“Wonder why Russell Brand is being attacked right now? Watch this clip,” US researcher Dr. Eli David wrote alongside the post.

In the video, Brand claims the Covid pandemic “created at least 40 new big pharma billionaires” and questions why taxpayers helped fund the rollout of vaccines.

Russell Brand adamantly denied allegations of sexual assault and rape in a video posted to YouTube.

His followers flooded the post with comments, with one describing the clip as “Gospel truth”.

“Exactly!!! Now they’re trying to take him down because they know he’s speaking the truth!” one wrote.
“They are coming for the Truth tellers,” another added.

Experts reveal reason for viral conspiracy theory

La Trobe University social psychologist Dr Mathew Marques said there was likely a large group of people who strongly identified with Brand and shared similar views regarding big pharmaceutical companies and the mainstream media.

As a result, he said, those people could view allegations against Brand as a personal attack.

“I imagine these people identify with Russell Brand, and any allegations against him become, in a way, an attack on themselves and threaten their own worldview,” he told news.com.au.

Deakin University researcher Dr Vivian Gerrand said conspiracy theories often emerged as a coping mechanism.

“They definitely attempt to make sense of complicated realities,” she told news.com.au. “Conspiracy theories are part of a myth-making tendency that humans have to try and make sense of the world,” she continued.

One of the allegations state that Brand had a relationship with a 16-year-old girl when he was 31. Picture: MAX NASH /AFP.

Russell Brand has refuted the allegations against him. Picture: Jewel SAMAD/AFP.

Dr Marques stressed it was “normal for people to believe in conspiracy theories”, adding that they could serve as a function to reduce anxiety.

“However, if it leads to harmful outcomes, where if it leads to sort of denying allegations, in this case, or those sorts of things, then it can be quite harmful both to the individual and society,” he added.
Dr Gerrand also spoke to the potential harm that conspiracy theories can cause.

“When there’s this kind of investment, I think, in this conspiracy world, it can actually be quite damaging, because there’s an inability to take stock of different facts as they emerge,” she said.

Conspiracy theorists have jumped to the defence of Russell Brand amid the allegations against him. Picture: X (formerly known as Twitter).

Russell Brand thanked the crowd for their support at his gig in Wembley Park Theatre on Saturday night. Picture: James Manning/PA Images via Getty Images.

She continued and, speaking generally, explained that even when confronted with evidence (or allegations in the case of Brand), it can be hard for some people to believe it because “they want to believe in the myth of this infallible hero”.

“So somehow Brand is more than human, when we know that every human being is capable of poor behaviour and damaging behaviour,” she said. Brand has vehemently denied the allegations.

“I think in this case, when someone has that kind of notoriety, it can be harder for their fans to believe in the allegations as they emerge, as we’ve seen in the past.

“And so that’s very damaging, I think, because it obviously impacts survivors in terrible ways when we don’t believe their stories and testimonies.”

Dr Marques said it was crucial to understand what motivates people to believe in those theories rather than stigmatise them.