Comedian Russell Brand tackled the topic of CNN’s coverage of the controversy over podcaster Joe Rogan and Spotify and roasted Brian Stelter in the process.
Brand’s criticism of the lack of good faith on the network has gone viral, sparked especially by the actor and podcaster’s hilarious impression of Stelter. The video has racked up millions of views on different viewing platforms including YouTube where it was posted on February 3 and has been watched more than 1.5 million times as of this writing.
“CNN’s Brian Stelter said this week that because of Joe Rogan ‘winging it’ people have stopped trusting ‘real newsrooms’. Could another explanation come from the media trying to push us towards WWIII?” the description reads on YouTube for the more than 12-minute full video.
Brand played several clips of CNN talking heads and zeroed in on Stelter for criticism of Rogan, claiming the popular podcaster spread misinformation about COVID-19 and vaccines as he’s interviewed various people.
“You think about major newsrooms like CNN that have health departments and desks and operations that work hard on verifying information on Covid-19,” the “Reliable Sources” host said in one clip.
“And then you have talk show stars like Joe Rogan, who just wing it, who make it up as they go along,” he added. “And because figures like Rogan are trusted by people that don’t trust real newsrooms, we have tension, a problem that’s much bigger than Spotify, much bigger than any single platform, but that’s what is the heart of this right now.”
Brand jumped in to mock Stelter with an imitation of his voice that soon spread like wildfire on social media.
Russell Brand mocking Stelter is my favorite thing of 2022. I can’t stop laughing 😂😂😂 For my safety, someone please stop @rustyrockets 😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Xzu2FHDhUs
— Russian Mud Tank Bosch (@BoschAnonymus) February 3, 2022
The 46-year-old British comedian slammed Stelter for being “jealous” of Rogan’s audience.
“Well, why don’t people trust me? They trust Rogan, but I’m perfectly trustworthy! Look how loose my tie knot is!” he said, mimicking Stelter.
The reactions to the clip, and Brand’s full segment, have poured in on social media with many saying Brand’s take is the best thing they’ve seen in a while.
“Note that Brand’s video has already been watched by 1.1 million people — far bigger than Stelter’s audience and double CNN’s prime-time shows,” journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted.
Note that Brand’s video has already been watched by 1.1. million people — far bigger than Stelter’s audience and double CNN’s prime-time shows. Do you see why they’re so desperate: smearing everyone independent as “far-right” conspiracy theorists and begging for mass censorship?
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 5, 2022
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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