While men (and boys) are raised in a society, now a global society, thanks to the Internet, that not only accepts that they'll watch porn, but actually pushes it on them at every possible turn, superstar comedian Russell Brand came out speaking against it.
This is really important because Brand enjoys and benefits quite nicely from his bad-boy image and rock-star status out in the world, not just with girls and women but even amongst his huge "bro" following. To have taken the unnecessary (for him) and hugely unpopular position he took here, claiming that pornography harms us and makes him feel ashamed to use it for lots of reasons, was, plain and simple, an extremely brave move. I am very impressed.
As someone who myself has written against the harms of pornography in mainstream publications that had a predominantly male readership, I know what backlash looks and feels like and it's why I take very long breaks from it. All I can say is, I'd hate to be the one opening Russell Brand's mail this morning...that's how strong the pushback always is from the pro-porn apologists. Russell's Bro-Club Cronies would only love his head on a stick right about now, you can bet on it.
My only wish here is that he would have taken a stronger stand on "doing whatever it takes" to get pornography out of one's life permanently. To take the strong position he does here against it and then to also admit that he hates himself when he goes back to it, gives the message that he is powerless to change that. We know that's not true....
My favorite line in his video (watch it below) is:
"The cloud of pornographic information and even soft cultural smog like Fifty Shades of Grey and [pornified advertisements] is making it impossible for us to relate to our own sexuality, our own psychology, and our own spirituality."
Bravo, Russell Brand.....let's hope this is a beginning with more men willing to take such a courageous stand and speak up.
What's your take on his video below (now gone viral)?
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