He Actually Said It ON AIR

Quick Overview

Russell Brand mockingly scrutinizes Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's statement regarding a police officer who ran over an individual, contrasting Frey's supposed outrage with his perceived inaction on other local issues, particularly citing the mayor's alleged failure to act on a hip injury incident and his prior actions regarding a statue.

Key Points: Russell Brand critiques Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey's response to an incident where an officer ran over someone, suggesting Frey's reaction was performative. Brand questions why Frey expresses outrage over police misconduct but seemingly ignores other local problems, such as the case of Lesley-Jo Hill. Brand recounts the Lesley-Jo Hill case, where the individual who was run over was reportedly not injured, contrasting this with the mayor's perceived overreaction in other situations. Brand accuses Frey of hypocrisy, stating that if the situation involved a refrigerator door incident or a statue, Frey would have acted differently or been more passionate. Brand suggests that the mayor's perceived outrage is part of a larger pattern of 'bravado' used to distract from real, unresolved local tragedies. The segment features a split screen showing Mayor Frey speaking at a press conference with an ASL interpreter, juxtaposed with Russell Brand's commentary. The video concludes with Brand and co-hosts laughing and mocking the situation, with Brand making gestures mimicking shooting himself and putting his hips in a refrigerator.

Context: The video features comedian and commentator Russell Brand reacting to a news clip showing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey addressing the media following an incident involving a police officer. Brand uses this clip to critique what he perceives as selective outrage and performative politics by local officials, contrasting the mayor's response to police actions with his alleged lack of action on other community issues, specifically referencing the case of Lesley-Jo Hill.

Detailed Analysis

Russell Brand begins by playing a clip of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaking at a podium, alongside an ASL interpreter, about an incident where an Ice Agent ran over someone. Brand immediately mocks Frey's apparent urgency, stating he will not 'take my word for it' but rather look at the incident involving Lesley-Jo Hill, who was allegedly run over by a Jeep Wrangler 392. Brand sarcastically notes that the woman involved (Hill) was not injured, implying the mayor's reaction was disproportionate or performative compared to other issues. Brand further mocks Frey by suggesting that if the incident involved something trivial like banging his hip on a refrigerator door or the removal of a statue (referencing a 'reclining Zeus' statue), the mayor would display far more passion. Brand argues that this public display of anger is simply 'bravado' masking an inability to handle real, 'irresolvable tragedy,' suggesting the officials are afraid to do their jobs or address deeper issues. The latter part of the segment switches to a multi-panel view with Brand and several co-hosts laughing and continuing to mock Frey's actions, with Brand making dramatic physical gestures.