British comedian Russell Brand has this week attracted significant criticism for a post on social media site Facebook in which he equated The Queen’s German heritage to Nazism. The post garnered significant attention from Brand’s 3.4m Facebook followers, many of whom were appalled by his expletive-ridden rant, taking to the comments section to express their outrage.
Brand, well known in the UK for his revolutionary politics, used the opportunity to point out the fact that the Royal Family’s name was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1917 to Windsor, at the height of the First World War, describing the Royal Family as “as German as the enemy”.
He went on to say, of The Queen, “no wonder they f*cking changed it. It’s the most German thing I’ve ever heard – she might’ve well as been called ‘Mrs Bratwurst-Kraut-Nazi'”.
Russell Brand’s provocative comments come just days after a video from the Royal Archives, taken before the outbreak of the Second World War, appeared to show The Queen, aged 7, giving a mock “Nazi salute” – a gesture which it’s been pointed out did not yet have all the historic weight that it eventually would as the Nazi regime grew in Germany.
Many followers of Brand were clearly shocked by the outburst, leading one to commenter to exclaim, “I AM GERMAN… my NAME is german and I am NOT a Nazi !!! In fact, not EVERY german is a Nazi! [sic]”, a comment which garnered significant attention from other readers, gaining over 5,000 ‘likes’ on the page.
Another commenter humorously points out that Brand was “beside [himself] with excitement to meet her”. Brand had described in a television interview his encounters with members of the Royal Family and how he’d gone “all giddy” when meeting the them and that it “gets you all excited” when waiting for the royals.
This isn’t the first time Brand has aired his republican sympathies, having made similar rants about the cost of the Monarchy on his YouTube channel a few weeks ago, lambasting The Queen for her personal wealth – despite being a millionaire several times over himself.
In the Facebook post – published yesterday – Brand also comments on The Queen’s style of ‘Your Majesty’, insisting that we are compelled to address her as such like “she’s all majestic, like an eagle or a mountain”. This contrasts with the honorific in most presidencies of ‘Excellency’, meaning presidents are addressed as “Your Excellency” in a similar fashion.
Brand’s implication that the present Queen and Royal Family have Nazi links is particularly egregious to many who note that both The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh served in the Armed Forces during the Second World War. The Queen in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, and Prince Philip in the Royal Navy – attaining a distinguished war record in the process in the fight against Nazism.
photo credit: Joel Telling
Not worthy to comment.
That’s axiomatically not what he was doing though, if you read his Facebook post, the implication was that The Queen (by virtue of her German heritage) is a Nazi.
He don’t mean that all Germans are Nazis. He’s making a comparison that at the time everybody put Nazis as the main evil in the world and that Her Majesty the Queen was not really far from it. Your perception of the implication is shallow and not what was trying to be conveyed.
In 1933 very few people saw Nazism as the main source of evil in the world. Hitler had only just become Chancellor, and most people outside Germany didn’t completely understand the ideology that shaped his goals.
If you could go back in time to 1933 and ask people what they saw as the biggest danger in the world, most of them would cite bolshevism/communism as being their main worry.
I saw the film that was published in the Sun, and it looked to me like the Duchess of York and the Prince of Wales were playing with the girls and mocking the Nazi salute.
German and english royals marryed so she may have german roots. But fact she was a child and was before they knew what hitler was about.. anyone who thing she was or is got something wrong with them if anyone know history at end day england helped take hitler out.. one must think he try to be funny might be in poor tase. But queen should just ignor.. my great grand mother was german royal she left germany . . Many had troubles get out under hitler hum
Understand well here position need to push attention with the device respect to her position its a actor and actors leave to many the personages who made it and very times dont know or do a idea of the reality.
The Queen pays taxes too, and probably a lot more than you do. She also attracts millions of tourists each year which impacts on your economy. She is imminently more productive for the UK than many of her critics. Brand is an obnoxious, loathsome man, who adds nothing of value to the country, a socialist millionaire who hasn’t got the intelligence to recognise the hypocrisy of his position.
Totally agree with you. Michelle. Russell Brand is amongst those that I will NOT watch, and refuse to have anything to do with via news or anything. He is a dreadful man, and he disgusts me with his views, and the way he thinks he is so high and mighty that he is able to criticize whoever he wants to, despite the despicable things he has said and done himself. I love our Royal Family, and without them Great Britain would be just another country – they bring loads of visitors to the UK, and especially London and are worth their weight in gold – literally !
how do you know his views if you don’t watch him?
In Response to his Facebook post about the Queen ~ “It’s a shame there is so many ignorant dumb people commenting here… What do Nazis have to do with an old Prussian Empire? The name was changed because of all the anti Royalists in Britain & due to a World War which started around the time a German Aircraft called the Gotha was produced to attack France & mainland Britain. Mrs Saxe-Coburg-Gotha?? No such name under the current Queen, the queens name is her name at birth Queen Elizabeth Mary, it was a treasonable offence to insult & act like a dip shit like this prick towards Royalty.. The Queen for example a now older lady who has been a very long servant to the country & dominions & also her people, to speak up against everything that has tried to stop your way of life, thats also the right to secure your right to act accordingly without due punishment (unlike your government) She is a honorable figure head to represent all that has gone good & bad throughout a great Rich Nation, which gave us the Jet Engine & Global Open Trade, through past conflicts & friendships.. The name Saxe Coburg Gotha is a title of part of the house of Wettin in Bavaria which came to the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg. Queen Victoria herself remained a member of the House of Hanover, because, King George the 1st ascended the British throne as the first monarch of the house of Hanover, he spoke only German. This is disgusting branding the Queen as a Nazi. My great Grandmother was German, she was full Prussian blooded German, she would have been murdered by the Nazis if she had not have married an Englishman.Prussia is left out of this sarcastic joke & therefore brought more of a direct insult to amuse only the dull-witted… Bring on Billy Connolly any day ..pift! A comedian should have a brain first right? Also the remark about boys being conscripted whats his sarcastic point? referring to the Hitler Youth I guess?.. In all wars on all sides young men & boys were conscripted to have fought in most of the worlds conflicts. Descartes – “Any community that gets its laughs by pretending to be idiots will eventually be flooded by actual idiots who mistakenly believe that they’re in good company”. If we did not have Royal Families in the world, we would end up with lefty socialism scum & idiots like Russell Brand representing countries. This racist disgusting remark goes towards the many Germans who died in WW1 & WW2 who were highly against Imperial Germany & then in the 30s-40s Nazi Movement (which his comment makes no sense the Nazis in WW?)…..?? It is a discusting remark also towards the many British & Commonwealth service men & women who served & died in both wars also. Just disgraceful!”
Language.
Anybody hanging out with NAZI
Is Grose. Absolutely grose. I don’t care if you are for or against. Makes me wonder if the diplomat was told be the Royal Family to make Hitler outcast a nice guy before Hitler invaded his neighbour.
Your commentary makes no sense. Also, the word is “gross”, not “grose”. Please, study up on HMQEII and her amazing record prior to commenting.
you do realise he is primarily JOKING? he’s not implying all Germans are Nazi, obviously, and his point is basically valid..i think the reason for the repeated outrage at this fellows humorous outbursts are generally because he touches a raw nerve, a raw nerve named “the truth”…to label the Queen a Nazi sympathiser or some such is missing the point that the regime was respected in the early part of the 30’s…no one could forsee what was to come at that point, not the Queen, not even Neville Chamberlain…context people, lets keep things in context
You really think he was joking ? And his use of the f word in refernce to the Queen and her family, that was funny ? Your sense of humor leaves a question as too your background. Russell Brand is not funny or talented. He looks dirty and sounds dumb. He won’t be around long. He should never be listed among the greats as Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, George and Gracy Burns, etc. They never spoke in public with such foul language about anyone.
the fact that you personally didn’t find it funny doesn’t change the fact that he was primarily joking, and this particular article has presented the story out of context, someting print media and latterly, web based media are quite fond of doing. Humour, like much in the world has changed, for better or for worse, and the tone of your reply leads me to believe that you are rather unconnected with the present day, perhaps socially and culturally, I do respect you for your views, but perhaps you should investigate the context a little more thouroughly before replying, casting aspersions on “my background” whatever that may mean.
How do you know with such conviction that he was jokeing ? Did you hear laughter from in studio as he spoke ? Did you really laugh ? As for ‘investigate the context’ I think what he said was what he meant. Keep in mind that he was not on stage performing before a live audience where he could stroke his ego with the sound of laughter and applause. Maybe he will make the same comment live on stage, but…..I don’t think he will, he is not know for his bravery here in Hollywood.
PS: as for being “unconnected with the present day” I don’t know if you are equating that to a persons age or a geographical location, or the social status of ones friends or their morality. I don’t find the use of the f-word in refernce to a persons heritage amusing, and it sure as hell is not a laughing matter to imply that someones family were Nazi (s). I note you don’t seem to find any reference to your background funny or a joke.
I think the word “majesty” describes The Queen very well.
Edward VIII was a Nazi sympathiser as was the Queen’s uncle, the Duke of Kent.