Russell Brand Calls For Mercy Of Andrew Chan And Myuran Sukumaran In An Inexplicably Shirtless New Video

After challenging Australia’s immigration policy and the ensuing abuse of asylum seekers, comedian, activist and increasingly impressive Jesus impersonator Russell Brand has taken on a new cause from down under: the clemency appeals of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Brand first raised an interest in the case this weekend, asking his Twitter followers to head along to Sukumaran’s art show in London this week. Then, he joined the ranks of international celebrities like Richard Branson and Mumford and Sons who’ve supported the pair, by encouraging fans to join the Australian Mercy campaign which appeals directly to Indonensian President Joko Widodo.

These Aussie blokes are going to be killed soon for a bit of daft drug smuggling (they've done 10 yrs already) HELP! http://t.co/LRxs6JBteR

— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) April 11, 2015

Now, he’s released a full video explaining the issue on his Youtube channel, The Trews. The eight-minute clip uploaded this morning briefly explains the situation of Chan and Sukumaran before launching into an examination of jail as a rehabilitative institution, the political and economical repercussions of the Indonesian drug industry, and the ethical implications of corporal punishment.

And, while these are all incredibly interesting topics, it would be much easier to appraise his thoughts if he was wearing a shirt.

Are the beads supposed to add gravitas? Is he wearing pants? Does it even matter at this point?

Once If you get past that minor detail, many of his thoughts are very worthwhile. Particularly, when he talks about the fact he was drawn to the case as a result of his own experiences with the drug trade.

“As a recovering drug addict and someone who believes in the power of rehabilitation and the possibility of change, I was affected by the plight of these two men facing death for making a mistake, but really they’re being executed to make a point,” he said.

“They’re a symptom of a much bigger problem, and that problem involves governments and corporations, and unless they change, unless Indonesia looks at its real relationship with drugs and how it really facilitates the drug trade, unless countries like America, Australia and the UK look at why have we got drug epidemics … unless those problems are addressed, then these problems will continue.”

He concludes the video urging viewers to get involved with Amnesty International in their continuing fight to stop Chan and Sukumaran’s executions. He also asks the audience to appeal directly to Liverpool Football Club to question their sponsorship ties with Indonesia’s national airline amidst the controversy.

“Let’s all of us find compassion in our heart for people who may very well have done wrong but have served the sentence,” he said.

But, because his arguments are often the verbal equivalent of a plate of spaghetti, the clip also features a number of confusing tangents about the tobacco industry and the potential governmental benefits of drug smuggling — things which definitely need a full John Oliver treatment rather than an aside in one of Brand’s now trademark rants.

Regardless, the response to the video so far has mostly been positive. But that could be more about the popularity of the Mercy campaign itself and less about Russell Brand and his revolutionary nipples.