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16/07/2008
Brand Apologises After Prank Call
Comedian Russell Brand has apologised after making a prank phone call to police during a live performance.
As part of the stand-up show in Northampton on July 12, Brand used a mobile phone to call a crime hotline to claim he had spotted a man who may have been responsible for a series of assaults in the area.
The audience saw the comedian tell police he had spotted "the underpass attacker". This was a reference to local media coverage of a number of assaults that have taken place in underpasses within the town.
"I have seen a gentleman who fits the description," said Brand. "He was wearing a light green top and polka dot trousers and I thought, 'well look at the state of him'."
When asked about the laughter heard in the background, the comedian said he was watching an episode of The Bill on television.
The call was ended when Brand asked the female operator if she would like to have dinner with him, before he began to sing down the telephone.
The comedian has now released a statement, apologising for his actions. The statement said: "I appreciate the seriousness of the issue and am devastated by the possibility that I may have offended vulnerable people.
"I maintain that through discourse we can illuminate these dark behaviours but that ought not to be at the expense of people's feelings."
Northamptonshire police have refused to say whether further action will be taken against the 33-year-old comedian, although a spokesman commented: "We would discourage anyone from making such hoax or frivolous calls."
(NS/JM)
As part of the stand-up show in Northampton on July 12, Brand used a mobile phone to call a crime hotline to claim he had spotted a man who may have been responsible for a series of assaults in the area.
The audience saw the comedian tell police he had spotted "the underpass attacker". This was a reference to local media coverage of a number of assaults that have taken place in underpasses within the town.
"I have seen a gentleman who fits the description," said Brand. "He was wearing a light green top and polka dot trousers and I thought, 'well look at the state of him'."
When asked about the laughter heard in the background, the comedian said he was watching an episode of The Bill on television.
The call was ended when Brand asked the female operator if she would like to have dinner with him, before he began to sing down the telephone.
The comedian has now released a statement, apologising for his actions. The statement said: "I appreciate the seriousness of the issue and am devastated by the possibility that I may have offended vulnerable people.
"I maintain that through discourse we can illuminate these dark behaviours but that ought not to be at the expense of people's feelings."
Northamptonshire police have refused to say whether further action will be taken against the 33-year-old comedian, although a spokesman commented: "We would discourage anyone from making such hoax or frivolous calls."
(NS/JM)
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