Russell Brand Gets Death Threats for Jokes on MTV

Russell Brand received death threats after presenting the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

The British comic star sparked controversy with a series of risque jokes - including calling US President George W. Bush a "retarded cowboy" and likening Britney Spears to a "female Christ" – at the event, and has revealed some people were so furious they wanted to kill him.

He said: “The VMAs were a lot of fun. Especially the death threats. If you are going to kill someone, don’t give them advance notice, which gives you a chance to prepare.

“These Christian Republicans were watching me and thought, ‘Well, this is no good, I shall do a death threat.’ ”

Although Russell admits some of his jokes were cruel – he also poked fun at clean-cut American pop group the Jonas Brothers – he is amazed at the level of anger his jokes caused.

He added to BBC Radio 1: “How can you, while watching the TV, think, ‘Oh I don’t enjoy this, no I’m not enjoying this at all,’ then think, ‘Right I’m going to kill him?’ That’s a huge jump.”