For subscribers
Dividing the world into heroes and villains does us little good
We need to be able to speak in nuanced terms, including about Russell Brand or Donald Trump.
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When we simply label them villains – particularly those who, like Mr Donald Trump (left) and Mr Russell Brand, have large followings who already distrust the mainstream media – we are merely encouraging more division.
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
Jemima Kelly
Two main schools of thought seem to have led the responses to the shocking allegations of rape and sexual assault that have been made against comedian and YouTuber Russell Brand over the past week or so.
Either Brand is “a hero” being subjected to a witch-hunt for standing up to the dark forces of the mainstream establishment, or he’s a maleficent and misogynistic monster whose income stream should be immediately stopped and who should be condemned before he has had any kind of due process. Brand has strenuously denied all the allegations against him.
