Russell Brand was fired for dressing up as Osama Bin Laden on September 12th 2001

Resurfaced footage has offered an insight into why Russell Brand went into work dressed up as Osama Bin Laden on the day after 9/11.

*Warning: Discussion of drug abuse.*

Russell Brand has gained a reputation as a controversial enough comedian as it is - having recently even been viewed as on par with podcast host Joe Rogan.

However, one of his lowest moments - which saw him fired from his job at MTV - was when he decided to dress up at Osama Bin Laden.

Resurfaced footage has shown Brand opening up in an interview with talk show host Chelsea Handler - on Chelsea Lately - about how he ended up dressing up as the founder of extremist network Al-Qaeda.

Tommy London/ Alamy Stock Photo

Brand confirmed to Handler he indeed got fired from his job as a presenter at MTV days after he came into work dressed up.

He explained: "When I was a crack and heroin addict I made some unusual decisions. They included dressing, in an inappropriate way on 11 September.

"Now before I talk about this, remember I was on crack and heroine Chelsea, and I challenge any of you to take crack and heroine and see how it affects your personal, private and professional life.

"So, having taken a lot of crack and heroin. On 12 September, 2001, I went to work dressed as Osama Bin Laden."

REUTERS/ Alamy Stock Photo

Met with sounds of mass disapproval from the audience, Brand reflected: "Now, I know, the worst time to do it, in many ways."

However, many social media users have since flooded to the clip in support of Brand's honesty.

One said: "Dude owned up without hesitation. Respect."

Another wrote: "Brand's openness and honesty about his past and his mistakes, and the fact that he's been consistent with his values and has used that to help direct his personal growth moving forward from his younger self actually cultivates in me a lot of respect for the man.

"Humans who can embrace humility and admit when they make mistakes are few and far between. And I have a lot of respect for the journey he's been through and the places he's arrived at."

REUTERS/ Alamy Stock Photo

A third commented: "This is how you admit to doing something awful without being cancelled."

However, one user contested: "I spent many years as a coke addict and I mean 24 hours a day and never did something like this cross my mind."

A final resolved: "I used to hate this man until I learned how f**** smart he is and how passionate is about recovery."

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Topics: Celebrity, MTV, TV and Film, World News, Drugs

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.