Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be sarcasm and satire.
English comedian Russell Brand, during a Feb. 3 segment on his YouTube channel, used his acting skills to channel CNN anchor Brian Stelter.
The resulting parodic video went viral.
In the CNN segment appropriated by Brand, Stelter was complaining about the influence of podcaster Joe Rogan, a common topic in progressive media these days. Stelter griped, ā⦠Not all opinions are created equal.ā
Stelter claimed without evidence that Rogan was someone who āwould just wing it, who make it up as they go along ⦠figures like Rogan are trusted by people that donāt trust real newsrooms.ā
In his YouTube video Brand interrupted Stelterās footage, hijacking Stelterās messaging in a sneering, theatrical tone. Itās like Stelter crossed with Snagglepuss, and itās hilarious.
āNow listen here Sonny Jim, youāre not only making people not trust you, youāre making them not trust me,ā Russell whined. āWhy donāt people trust me? They trust Rogan, but Iām perfectly trustworthy. Look how loose my tie knot is!ā
For satire to work, it must contain an element of truth.
Brandās video was successful because it captured the current attitude of not just Stelter, but the establishment media in general: patronizing, outraged and maybe a little panicked about their fading credibility and relevance.
The reasons for CNNās troubles are clear in this video. Stelter used disinformation and innuendo to make his points.
āRoganās irresponsible. He took horse maggot medicine the other day!ā Brand shrieked in his parody, pointing out how CNN misrepresented Joe Roganās treatment during a COVID infection.
Brand is famously irreverent and eccentric, not only in the raunchy films heās starred in, but also during many Celebrity events and appearances. Heās no conservative.
What sets Brand apart now is that he is willing to discuss topics establishment elites donāt want discussed. In this, heās more like the liberals and comedians of earlier eras, who questioned and mocked authority.
Other Twitter users shared their responses to the clip, Brand and CNN.
An attack on CNN by a liberal comedian shows just how indefensible their practices have become. And itās not just viral videos they have to worry about.
Over just the last few months, CNN has struggled with low ratings, scandals and high-profile terminations.
The Daily Mail reports Stelter may be on the chopping block. āBrian Stelter should be calling his agent to start looking for another job,ā said an unnamed source.
Brian Stelterās approach to reporting left him vulnerable to ridicule. As activist Saul Alinsky said, there is no defense against ridicule. Russell Brand scored a direct hit against an easy target, despite the wailing of the progressives.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
