Bizarre footage released on the internet

The film was shot during a stand-up gig early in Brand’s career, when his performances were frequently affected by his drug addiction.

It has been published not on some obscure website, but FilmOn, a major new film download service launched by billionaire Alki David.

Strangely, the footage is billed as ‘an Alki David flik’ – even though it lasts only one minute and is shot on a fairly cheap camera.

It starts with a young-looking Brand brandishing what appears to be a blood-stained pair of women’s underwear, saying: ‘Someone’s got a little bit of explaining to do.’

He then talks about having sex with Barbie, but making sure it’s ‘absolutely bloody safe’, before an assistant wraps the doll in a condom. The comic then pulls his trousers and underwear down and inserts it up his backside.

With the doll still protruding, he then takes a hammer to an assortment of items on a neighbouring table, smashing them up.

He then removes Barbie and throws it into the audience, to howls of disgust.

The disgruntled crowd start throwing things at him and heckle him with ‘get him off’ and ‘fucking queer’, to which he replies: ‘I’m a heterosexual, sir, and one day I’ll show you the statistics and I’ll make you weep.'

The clip, called Russell Brand Does Barbie (or Bambie, according to the website’s catalogue, perhaps to avoid legal action from Barbie owner Mattel), is featured as an exclusive on David’s new FilmOn site.

The venture, profiled by both BBC News and The Times today, aims to deliver broadcast-quality films down a standard broadband connection. It is already offering such Hollywood hits as No Country For Old Men and promises the likes of Yes Man and Terminator Salvation in the future.

Born in Nigeria to a Greek shipping family, David is worth about £1.5billion after inheriting a family business that owns Coca-Cola bottling plants in 23 countries. He has recently turned to filmmaking, financing and directing last year’s Fishtales, a mermaid comedy starring Billy Zane and Kelly Brook, and Voyage: Killing Brigitte Nielsen, a hidden-camera reality show in which unsuspecting bystanders thought they had witnessed the murder of the Danish actor.

You can view the Brand film for free, or pay 99p to download and own it, here.

Published: 22 Dec 2008