Russell Brand threatened with arrest after filming outside Fox News headquarters
The comedian filmed outside Fox News building in New York before being ejected by security guards
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Russell Brand is at it again. In the latest post on The Trews video channel the comedian-turned-political campaigner unsuccessfully attempts to film outside the Fox News headquarters in New York before being threatened with arrest.
While trying to film, Brand is told to leave by a security official who comes out onto the pavement and asks him: “Do you want to get arrested?”
Scroll down to watch the video
Prior to the confrontation, Mr Brand had begun explaining why he and his camera crew were there.
“Here we are at Fox’s headquarters, all the greats are here - Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity - all the people who refuse to have us on the show.
“Sean Hannity, who booked us and then cancelled us. So we are going to do a Trew special from here, in the heart of the establishment.”
As Brand starts warming to his theme, the filming is interrupted by security guards who request that the comedian and his cameraman remove themselves from outside the building.
The guard claims, gesturing at the pavement, “You can’t film here, this is private property.”
When Mr Brand questions him, asking who owns the building, the guard responds: “It doesn’t matter, do you want to get arrested?”
Later he enters the lobby of the building, filmed from outside, only to be told by an off-screen employee: “You can’t stay on the property and film anything.”
Brand then asks the incredulous security officials for a tour, saying: “I would love a tour.”
He continues: “Can I come up, have a look around, maybe have a look at the studio, touch some stuff, meet some people from The Sean Hannity Show?”
Unsurprisingly, he is not invited up.
He ends the programme by condemning Fox News’ as a “difficult organisation to work with,” adding: “It is very difficult to have true freedom.”
“I think if we were doing proper covert filming we could have got further,” he said from the back of a car later.
His stunt comes as Mr Brand’s non-voting views were recently criticised by Sex Pistol’s frontman John Lydon, who called them “the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard”.
Mr Brand claimed there had been a misunderstanding, despite writing in the New Statesman last year: “I will never vote and I don’t think you should, either.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments