"Russell Brand had found his people, that much was clear. Last Saturday, in front of 800 fans in a hotel ballroom in Austin, the comedian doled out praise for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (whom he called "Great Brother Kennedy"), disdain for the medical establishment ("flat-out evil"), and gratitude for Jesus Christ ("Thank God we have a forgiving God that died for us"). He also told a bunch of dick jokes and, later, called me a Nazi."
"Brand and his fans had gathered for the annual conference of Children's Health Defense, the anti-vaccine nonprofit founded in 2018 by the current secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy wasn't there, but the movement's other headliners were. Brand-who is awaiting trial for rape and sexual assault in the U.K. and has pleaded not guilty-was onstage with Kennedy's wife, Cheryl Hines, to promote her memoir. Her publisher, Tony Lyons, was there in his role as president of MAHA Action, a nonprofit that holds weekly Zoom calls to galvanize support for Kennedy's agenda. Also on the scene were Andrew Wakefield, who's infamous for his discredited 1998 Lancet study on the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism, along with newer adherents such as Bret Weinstein, the evolutionary biologist, COVID-vaccine critic, and podcast host."
Russell Brand addressed about 800 attendees in Austin, praising Robert F. Kennedy Jr., criticizing the medical establishment, and expressing religious gratitude while mixing in crude humor. Brand later labeled a reporter a Nazi during a denied interview. Attendees convened for the annual Children's Health Defense conference, an anti-vaccine nonprofit founded in 2018 by the current secretary of Health and Human Services. Notable participants included Cheryl Hines, publisher Tony Lyons in his MAHA Action capacity, Andrew Wakefield, and Bret Weinstein. Conference attendees expressed deep distrust of vaccines and a belief that Kennedy's prominence validated their previously marginalized views.
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