“IN NO TIME at all we’re in a coffee shop, she’s just got a nappy on, she’s covered in stuff because I’m not willing to fight any of the battles,” Russell Brand told The Sunday Times Magazine when reflecting on time spent with his daughter. Discussing his role in family life, the 43-year-old made it clear that his approach to parenting is one which should be confined to the annals of history; a generation in which fathers are lauded for ‘babysitting’ their own children and given a free pass when it comes to domestic responsibilities because the woman is just ‘naturally better’ at it. “I’m very, very focused on the mystical connotations of Mabel’s beauty and grace. Not so good on the nappies and making sure that they eat food,” Russell offered at another point in the interview. Now, let’s imagine for a moment a high-profile female uttered the same sentiments when asked to discuss her approach to parenting during an interview with a high-profile publication. What might the implications be if she had said she ‘wasn’t willing to fight any of the battles’ and admitted she wasn’t much good at ensuring her children were clean and fed? Given the societal norms to which we are accustomed, it’s almost impossible to imagine a woman providing such a response, whether said in jest or not. And yet unfortunately – if Russell’s interview is anything to go by – the same incredulity doesn’t extend to men because, frankly, if it did then he’d have thought twice about providing such a bleak insight into his perspective on parenting. Yes, men and women – fathers and mothers alike – may be astounded by the comic’s comments, but the candour with which Russell implies his reluctance to parent in a practical sense suggests that society, as a whole, hasn’t progressed enough to internalise the fact that parenting isn’t exclusive to one gender. When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes in an hour. Sure, it’d be funny if it wasn’t so tragic; hilarious if it wasn’t such a sad indictment of Russell’s take on fatherhood and family life. “It turns out that Laura is extremely well versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing,” the comic said of his wife and the mother of his two daughters. Me, I am dedicated to it, devoted to it, but I am still surprised when it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this is f****** really hard and it’s so exhausting. Newsflash; she finds it exhausting too. Here’s the thing; it’d be naive to assume that Russell is alone in his perspective, but for someone who trades on a ‘woke’ narrative, the sentiments contained within the interview leave a bitter taste. While we may not have a reached a point in which sexist perspectives on parenting are obliterated entirely, we have, thankfully, reached a point where it sparks debate as evidenced by the response ignited by the interview on Twitter. Men who position themselves as above the mundane realities of housework and childcare can GET IN THE BIN. You are not better than us and I don’t give a shit how much you wrap it up in charming “oh I’m just a hopeless man” or, as here, “I’m far too sensitive”. Grow the fuck up. https://t.co/AlGRd06PwT — Caroline Criado Perez (@CCriadoPerez) January 20, 2019 This thread 👇🏼 When I feel Russell Brand couldn’t make me think less of him, he opens his mouth and spouts more rubbish! As this Twitter user states, grow up!! #parenting https://t.co/bnqz6aeeIc — Suz Brook (@suz_brook) January 21, 2019 @rustyrockets just read a hoooh haah! about you contribution to parenting. Don't worry, it's EXACTLY the same in my house, except that I have 4 children. Laura is a good mum and wife x — Sammybearmummy (@sammybearmummy) January 21, 2019 Has anyone slamming @rustyrockets’s thought to ask for his wife’s opinion on their parenting dynamics? Or are they too sexist to consider a woman’s perspective? 🙄 Don’t let them upset you dear Russell. You contribute energy to the nurturing of your babies in plenty of ways. — Samantha Pressdee (@SammiePressdee) January 21, 2019 Whether you accept his perspective or not, you have to ask yourself; in what world would a high-profile woman get away with echoing his sentiments? DailyEdge is on Instagram!<doc-sep>Entertainment Mare Of Easttown Is Nearly Over, Before We Die ... Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, you’re probably as addicted as the rest of us to Mare Of Easttown. Among its many, many<doc-sep>Russell Brand has never spent a full 24 hours with his children. The actor, who recently touched on his parenting style in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, admitted he had only spent “a night” with his daughters Mabel and Peggy. “[My wife] wouldn’t go away for 24 hours, Laura. She respects and cares for their safety too much,” he said. “Yes, I’m very, very focused on the mystical connotations of Mabel’s beauty and grace. Not so good on the nappies and making sure that they eat food. When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes in an hour.” READ MORE: Stay-at-home moms should earn over $160,000 a year, study finds The 43-year-old comedian continued his wife also packed all of the baby bags and snacks for their children. Story continues below advertisement “It turns out that she is extremely well versed int he nuances and complexities of child-rearing. Me, I am dedicated to it, devoted to it, but I am still surprised when it’s like ‘Oh my God, this is f*****g really hard and it’s so exhausting.’ The younger one [who is six months], I just feel inept so quickly like with the crying.” Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It turns out that she is extremely well versed int he nuances and complexities of child-rearing. Me, I am dedicated to it, devoted to it, but I am still surprised when it's like 'Oh my God, this is f*****g really hard and it's so exhausting.' The younger one [who is six months], I just feel inept so quickly like with the crying." He said his wife was able to “sustain and maintain domesticity in a way that’s astonishing,” something he doesn’t have experience with. “I do whatever I’m told,” he said. READ MORE: Why parents should be on the lookout for racist and sexist messages in video game But Brand added he didn’t want the interview to conclude he was a lazy parent. “I would hate for you to leave with the impression that I’m sort of a sat watching television, peering over the armchair at what’s going on,” he continued. “Yesterday, like, I drove Mabel to the playschool and I drop her at the playschool. But I’m sensitive and awake and aware, so I have to dial a lot of s**t down to go through life normal.” Social media users react On Twitter, not many were impressed by Brand’s interview or how he talked about his wife. Some on Twitter called him “sexist.” Story continues below advertisement Guardian reporter Hadley Freeman said the actor’s responses were very “Russell Brand.” “Russell Brand pitching himself as some New Age, all new, mature and sensitive dad – and then saying he’s too sensitive to do any actual parenting is the most Russell Brand thing I’ve ever read in my life.” Russell Brand pitching himself as some New Age, all new, mature and sensitive dad – and then saying he’s too sensitive to do any actual parenting is the most Russell Brand thing I’ve ever read in my life pic.twitter.com/T0KSObnWXo — Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) January 20, 2019 Other’s agreed with Freeman’s response. Basically Laura has 3 children pic.twitter.com/GJsMbTtXgy — Sarah (@sbl1976) January 20, 2019 @rustyrockets I admire your work around drugs & health but was disappointed to read about your attitude to parenting. Im a mum of 4 with #BPD – I know Im not the best parent but I always strive to learn & improve. I hope you were simply misrepresented https://t.co/PBcdlpaTBr — Victoria Nunn (@viva_victoria85) January 21, 2019 WATCH: Review — Russell Brand’s new show Eeeurgh. What a load of cobblers. Imagine if mothers (and Russell Brand’s partner) refused to change nappies, remember snacks for their toddlers & do BASIC PARENTING because of being ‘romantic & reflective’. Turns out Russell Brand is just a big old fashioned sexist. https://t.co/FEdHpfZIEi — Rhiannon Clapperton (@HughesyRhi) January 20, 2019 As ever Russell Brand reels off a load of woo woo to distract from the fact that he's got a shitty attitude towards women. https://t.co/7mxHCUQbVj — Ellie Mae O'Hagan 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@MissEllieMae) January 20, 2019 Russell Brand’s approach to parenting reminds me of that time Rupert Murdoch tweeted that he was babysitting his own child https://t.co/Ao28N7DsyK — anyabike (@anyabike) January 20, 2019 But some argued he was only praising his wife. Not defending @rustyrockets here but as a married mum of 2 his comments are not unusual. Many men of young children are utterly clueless and in the face of far more capable partners they just concede defeat. He does praise his wife, that's more than many.https://t.co/umAUPHUGjC — Cathy McFarland (@PipingWidow) January 21, 2019 Story continues below advertisement Is Russell Brand the sexist monster everyone is making him out to be? Or just another imperfect, damaged human who doesn't know the "right" thing to say. I know plenty of dads like him, and far worse, but no-one interviews them. — Jules (@MissMastery) January 20, 2019 READ MORE: Lawnmower parents are the new helicopter parents — and experts believe they are ‘detrimental’ Has anyone slamming @rustyrockets’s thought to ask for his wife’s opinion on their parenting dynamics? Or are they too sexist to consider a woman’s perspective? 🙄 Don’t let them upset you dear Russell. You contribute energy to the nurturing of your babies in plenty of ways. — Samantha Pressdee (@SammiePressdee) January 21, 2019 In 2014, Brand was also called out for his views on sexism and even feminism. Brand claimed this then girlfriend Jemina Khan changed him from a sexist to a feminist, the Telegraph reported after he joined the No More Page 3 campaign (a campaign in the U.K. that aimed to stop The Sun newspaper from printing pictures of topless models on Page 3). He posted a photo of himself in a campaign shirt with the caption, “Love of a good woman.” Some, like scientist and writer Dr. Brooke Magnanti didn’t buy his sudden jump into feminism. “The world loves a lover, and Brand’s enthusiasm for his relationship with Jemima Khan is sweet. ‘Love of a good woman,’ though? Really? What on earth does that mean?<doc-sep>Russell Brand has never spent 24 hours in sole charge of his children, the comedian revealed in a recent interview. His comments have prompted accusations of sexist and old-fashioned parenting, given that he said he leaves the majority of the responsibility to his wife, Laura Gallacher, with whom he has two daughters, Mabel, two, and Peggy, six months. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Brand said Gallacher would never leave him alone with the children for more than one day because “she respects and cares for them too much”. The actor and comedian also confessed he is “not so good” when it comes to basic parental duties, such as changing nappies and being in charge at mealtimes. “When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes in an hour,” he told interviewer Decca Aitkenhead. Recommended School threatens to withhold dinners if debts not paid “In no time at all we’re in a coffee shop, she’s just got a nappy on, she’s covered in stuff because I’m not willing to fight any of the battles.” Brand, 31, went on to praise Gallacher’s parenting skills, describing her as “astonishing”. Asked why he doesn’t take on more of the practical tasks of parenting, the Get Him To The Greek star said he’s “still of a romantic and reflective [...] disposition,” adding that he often feels “inept” when looking after his youngest child. His comments have garnered swathes of criticism on social media, with people calling on Brand to take on more responsibility at home. “Laura is better at it because she has no choice. Someone has to step up and take responsibility for keeping your child alive and nurturing them into a well rounded, clean and fed human being!” wrote one person on Twitter. Meet the newborn Show all 19 1 /19 Meet the newborn Meet the newborn Amugpote and his daughter Nam in Bangkok, Thailand ‘I was happy and excited when I found out I was going to be a dad. I don’t have paternity leave. If I don’t go to work I don’t get paid. I took a half day off to do the birth certificate’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Gabino and his daughter in Veracruz, Mexico Gabino Macuixtle Macuixtle holds his newborn baby girl at the Zongolica IMSS Prospera hospital UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Jim and his daughter Piper in Exeter ‘I’m going to be involved in any way I can, cuddles, reading to her, nappy changes, feeds, everything I can do I’ll do it’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Arslan and his son Damir in Turkmenistan ‘For the past nine months, I’ve been preoccupied. It’s as if I was the one giving birth’ Meet the newborn Shageldi and his son Nepes in Turkmenistan Shageldi wipes away tears as he looks at his baby, who was born at the Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe Â© UNICEF/UN0210014/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Supidej and his son Matt in Bangkok ‘I came to see my baby’s face. My boss didn’t allow me to take the day off because I had lots of work, but I don’t care, my family comes first’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Somsak and his son Sailom in Chiang Mai, Thailand ‘The baby looked at me and smiled. It's hard to explain the feeling. I feel love. I feel I love him so much’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Resulberdi and his daughter Yazbibi in Turkmenistan Resulberdi chose not to celebrate the birth straightaway. ‘I am superstitious. I want to keep my feelings to myself. After 40 days I will celebrate’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Juelmo and his daughter in Bula, western Guinea-Bissau Juelmo looks over his newborn daughter as she sleeps on a cot in Mother Teresa of Calcutta Maternity Hospital in the Cacheu Region Â© UNICEF/UN0209078/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Nathan and his son Ted in Exeter ‘The first time you hold your new baby is one of the best feelings ever, it’s hard to describe but it feels like you’re being given someone you already know’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Yair and daughter Mia in Mexico Yair with his third child, born in Mexico City UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Alfonso and his daughter Eliette in Mexico City ‘For four years we could not get pregnant at all, and when we found out, it was wonderful’ UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn José and his daughter Deniss in Mexico José, his wife and daughter arrive home after the birth of Deniss at the hospital in Zongolica UNICEF/Zehbrauskas Meet the newborn Arslan and his son Damir in Turkmenistan Arslan and his wife Alina look at their second child, a baby boy Meet the newborn Shageldi with his son Nepes in Turkmenistan The new father proudly paraded his son in front of relatives at the Maternity Unit, Mother and Child Health Centre in Goekdepe Meet the newborn Sompong and his daughter in Bangkok ‘I think it's good to have skin-to-skin like this. The feeling is hard to explain, I'm just happy’ Meet the newborn Somsak and his son Sailom Somsak lovingly holds his son Sailmon, whose name means wind, after washing him for the first time Meet the newborn Eli, his wife Lucia and daughter Mage in Mexico The family at Zongolica IMSS Prospera hospital Meet the newborn Oliverio and his son Oliver in Mexico Oliverio kisses his newborn son Oliver moments after he is born at the Zongolica IMSS Prospera hospital Another added:“Imagine if mothers (and Russell Brand’s partner) refused to change nappies, remember snacks for their toddlers and do BASIC PARENTING because of being ‘romantic & reflective’. “Turns out Russell Brand is just a big old fashioned sexist.”<doc-sep>
He claims to be a keen feminist and a sensitive new age father. But comedian Russell Brand has been slammed for revealing his “sexist” views on parenting. The former womaniser has admitted that his wife does just about everything for their kids. The 43-year-old, the father of Mabel, two, and Peggy, six months, says he’s too “sensitive” to change nappies and that he has never looked after his daughters on his own for 24 hours as his wife “respects and cares for their safety too much”. Brand described wife Laura Gallacher as an expert when it comes to “domesticity”. In comments that have been widely mocked on Twitter, he said he was more focused on the “mystical connotations” of his daughter’s beauty than the basics of parenting such as providing food. The comedian told The Sunday Times: “Yes, I’m very, very focused on the mystical connotations of Mabel’s beauty and grace. Not so good on the nappies and making sure that they eat food. “When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes in an hour. In no time at all we’re in a coffee shop, she’s just got a nappy on and she’s covered in stuff because I’m not willing to fight any of the battles. “Laura’s able to sustain and maintain domesticity in a way that’s astonishing. I didn’t have much experience of how to organise domesticity. I do whatever I’m told.” Russell Brand pitching himself as some New Age, all new, mature and sensitive dad - and then saying he’s too sensitive to do any actual parenting is the most Russell Brand thing I’ve ever read in my life pic.twitter.com/T0KSObnWXo — Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) January 20, 2019 Decca Aitkenhead's Russell Brand piece in the @TheSTMagazine will make your eyes roll clean out of your head. I cannot BEAR men that openly admit to not doing their bit with kids and dressing it up as "oh, you know me, I can't do that stuff!!" "She's so much better at it!" — Jamie East (@jamieeast) January 20, 2019 Russell Brand embodies brocialism. Wants credit for being all woke and sensitive while still expecting the women in his life to do the actual work. — what will grow crooked you can't make straight (@portraitinflesh) January 20, 2019 It’s attractive when you’re sixteen, that’s why these men always end up in short term relationships with younger women. His poor wife (I have no idea if he’s married, but “partner” seems entirely wrong in this context). — The Brefugees (@TheBrefugees) January 20, 2019 Brand told The Sunday Times parenting was “f------ exhausting” and that he was more of a “romantic and reflective”. He broke off during the interview to explain that he wasn’t totally useless and had helped out dropping his daughter off at daycare. “But I’m sensitive and awake and aware, so I have to dial a lot s--t down to go through nromral life”. Brand’s comments sparked outrage on social media, with Twitter users expressing sympathy for his wife having to do the bulk of all the work. One user said: “Laura is better at it because she has no choice. Someone has to step up and take responsibility for keeping your child alive and nurturing them into a well rounded, clean and fed human being.” Another posted: “Patriarchy really does evolve and shift, doesn’t it? We’ve gone from ‘I’m too macho to change nappies’ to ‘I’m too sensitive to change nappies’. In each case, the dude manages to frame the shunting of the work onto his partner as a weird self-compliment.”