I get why people dig Russell Brand. I think he is entertaining as hell when he wants to be and he does good work destigmatizing addiction. But even though he’s supposedly reformed himself, he’ll do something that pings my douche-o-meter. His latest interview with The Sunday Times Magazine sent my douche-o-meter into the red. Russell, 43, married Laura Gallacher, 31, in August 2017. They are parents to Peggy, six months and Mabel, two. The Times asked Brand about fatherhood and although he waxed poetic about the idea of his daughters, he admitted that he doesn’t do any of the work to raise them and justified his non-involvement by saying he’s disorganized.
On why Laura has to do all the work: I’m still of a romantic and reflective and, possibly, to give it its proper name, a religious disposition. That’s my world view. That’s not necessarily what you want organizing pragmatic, bureaucratic, managerial stuff.
But this is all a compliment to Laura, or something: It turns out that [Laura] is extremely well versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing. Me, I am dedicated to it, devoted to it, but I am still surprised when it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this is f—ing really hard and it’s so exhausting.’ The younger one, I just feel inept so quickly, like with the crying.
On the longest he’s watched his own children: Um, I’ve done like, a night. But they’re asleep then.
On if he’s ever spent a full day alone with his kids: No. She wouldn’t go away for 24 hours, Laura. She respects and cares for their safety too much.
On his strengths and weakness: Yes, I’m very, very focused on the mystical connotations of Mabel’s beauty and grace. Not so good on the nappies and making sure that they eat food.
It’s just easier for Laura: We’re in a coffee shop, she’s just got a nappy on, she’s covered in stuff because I’m not willing to fight any of the battles. I’m like, f*** it, it doesn’t matter whether she wears trousers, no, I suppose it doesn’t matter if she does that. So it looks a bit Shameless within a couple of hours. Laura’s able to sustain and maintain domesticity in a way that’s astonishing.
[From People and Sky News]
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The interview itself is behind a paywall so I can’t link it. Some argue this is just Brand’s humor coming through. I doubt that, primarily because of the twisted rationalizing he does to justify his lack of involvement. We’re supposed to accept that he parents on a conceptual level and that that excuses him from the nuts and bolts of child-rearing. What happens when Peggy or Mabel get into a scrape? Will Brand ponder the existential ramifications while Laura cleans the wound snd puts on a bandaid? He’s modeling to his children that they can’t depend on him when it’s important. Yes, child rearingften “f—king exhausting,” but it’s not the child’s responsibility to compensate for a parent who refuses to adapt.
I’m not defending Laura, either. I asked a counselor why my daughter has not been asking for help at school and has been taking it all on herself. The counselor asked, “Does she ever see you ask for help?” The answer, sadly, was no. And when I did, I’d apologize. But that’s changing because I don’t want that pressure on my kids. Laura would be doing her daughters a service by asking their pops to lend a hand.
Photo credit: WENN Photos
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