11:23 AM EDT 10/31/2008

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Russell Brand

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Russell Brand Quits BBC Over Radio Show Antics

Russell Brand Quits BBC Over Radio Show Antics

Originally posted 10/29/2008 04:00PM

British comedian Russell Brand, who faced criticism when he hosted the MTV Video Music Awards, was forced to resign from the BBC in a furor over offensive comments he left on an elderly actor's voicemail.

"I now acknowledge it was a really, really stupid thing to do," said Brand in a video statement released by the BBC. "I was being really silly and caught up in the moment."

Brand, 33, was hosting a radio program when he and another BBC presenter, Jonathan Ross, left at least four voicemail on the telephone belonging to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, 78.

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The Jonas Brothers Just Want 'To Make Mom Proud'

The Jonas Brothers Just Want 'To Make Mom Proud'

Originally posted 09/11/2008 07:35AM

It's official: The Jonas Brothers are now an international phenomenon.

The teen pop stars were met by more than 1,000 screaming fans Wednesday, when they headed stepped out in London for the European premiere of Camp Rock, the movie starring Joe, 19, and featuring appearances by Kevin, 20, and Nick, 15.

And on the event's purple carpet, they brushed off Russell Brand's controversial comments about their purity rings while hosting the MTV Video Music Awards.

"You know, we're just trying our best every day," Joe told reporters. "We're just trying to make our mom proud every day." (The brothers previously called Brand's hosting job "hilarious.")

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Jordin Sparks Explains Her VMAs 'Slut' Comment

Jordin Sparks Explains Her VMAs 'Slut' Comment

Originally posted 09/10/2008 04:40PM

Jordin Sparks doesn't regret defending the Jonas Brothers for wearing purity rings at MTV's Video Music Awards on Sunday – but now wishes she'd chosen her words more carefully.

During the show, Sparks – who wears a purity ring herself – called out host Russell Brand for mocking the trio's jewelry.

Sparks's original comment on live television was, "It's not bad to wear a promise ring because not everybody – guy or girl – wants to be a slut."

But now she's clarifying her remarks in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly. "I wish I would’ve worded it differently – that somebody who doesn’t wear a promise ring isn't necessarily a slut – but I can't take it back now," Sparks, 18, told the magazine.

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Jonas Brothers Call Russell Brand 'Hilarious' | Jonas Brothers

Jonas Brothers Call Russell Brand 'Hilarious'

Originally posted 09/09/2008 02:55PM

Forgive and forget? That seems to be the Jonas Brothers' attitude toward Russell Brand.

In England to promote their Disney movie Camp Rock, the brothers say they were not upset at the British comedian for taking swipes at their purity rings and pledges of virginity during Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.

"For us it's cool to see that he recognizes we are gentleman," Nick Jonas said Tuesday during an appearance on BBC Radio's Newsbeat program.

Plus, the teen stars say, they had an army of fans by their side.

Said Kevin: "We had a lot of friends there and everybody's so nice. We had a good time."

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Five Things You Don't Know About Russell Brand

Five Things You Don't Know About Russell Brand

Originally posted 09/08/2008 05:10PM

Not everything Russell Brand said at Sunday's Video Music Awards was met with approval, but that's in keeping with the comic style of the controversial host of the show.

So, just who is this guy with the shaggy hair and the gall to call Britney the second Christ?

Here are five things you may not know about him:

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Music News

VIDEO: Britney's VMAs Promotional Spot

Originally posted 08/11/2008 07:35PM



You can believe your eyes – that's really Britney Spears joking with MTV's Video Music Awards host Russell Brand in new ads for the upcoming show.

"You are Britney Spears, right? I'm not dreaming this am I," asks the British comedian in the ad, which also includes a 9,000-lb. elephant in the background.

"No, this is real," Spears assures the show's host – and pinches him to prove it.

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Russell Brand to Bring 'Maddening Danger' to VMAs

TV News

Russell Brand to Bring 'Maddening Danger' to VMAs

Originally posted 07/25/2008 09:30AM

Russell Brand is relatively unknown in the U.S. – but that didn't stop MTV from tapping the wild-haired British comic to host this year's Video Music Awards.

What should viewers expect?

"I'm English, so I've got impeccable manners," he tells PEOPLE. "But I'm borderline psychotic in areas of performance. So there will be risks because it's live. There's no point of things like that being live if there's no risk of maddening danger."

But despite those risks, Brand says, "I'm looking forward to presiding over the night of music and live mayhem."

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