British comedian Russell Brand doesn’t hold anything back (other than his hair) in an episode the of “Trews” (true news) that’s dedicated to the impending executions of two Australians on Indonesian death row.
The outspoken Brit uploaded a eight and a half minute video to YouTube on April 13 for the 27th episode of his videocast series, titled “Bali 9 Executions: What’s The Real Drug Problem?”
“But what’s the real reason they’re being killed? Is it a symbol? Is it necessary? Are they rehabilitated? And what’s the point of punishment?” These are the questions Brand sets out to answer.
In his spiel, Brand draws from a number of articles reporting on corruption in the Indonesian government, the power of the country’s tobacco industry, the strength of the global drug trade, and he even gets personal, discussion his own experience with drugs.
“As a recovering drug addict and someone who believes in rehabilitation, and the possibility of change, I was affected by the plight of these two men, facing death for making a mistake. But really, they’re being executed to make a point,” Brand says in the video.
The video comes just two days after he tweeted his support to the mercy campaign, urging his fans to educate themselves about Chan and Sukumaran’s story, while also inviting people to check out Sukumaran’s artworks on exhibition in London.
