Russell Brand is the first to admit his wife, Laura, “does all of it” when it comes to the “pragmatic, bureaucratic, managerial” parts of childcare.
Dad to daughters Peggy, 6 months, and Mabel, 2, the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star recently opened up in an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine about what he contributes in the parenting sphere.
“I’m still of a romantic and reflective and, possibly, to give it its proper name, a religious disposition,” Brand, 43, told the U.K. publication of why he leaves things like diapers and snacks to his wife. “That’s my world view. That’s not necessarily what you want organizing pragmatic, bureaucratic, managerial stuff.”
“It turns out that [Laura] is extremely well versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing,” he continued. “Me, I am dedicated to it, devoted to it, but I am still surprised when it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this is f—ing really hard and it’s so exhausting.’ The younger one, I just feel inept so quickly, like with the crying.’ “
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Brand’s comments didn’t sit well with fellow moms, dads and others who took issue with him not being as involved with the day-to-day tasks of parenting.
“Russell Brand embodies brocialism. Wants credit for being all woke and sensitive while still expecting the women in his life to do the actual work,” one comment criticized the actor and comedian.
A second Twitter user wrote, “I cannot BEAR men that openly admit to not doing their bit with kids and dressing it up as ‘Oh, you know me, I can’t do that stuff!!’ ‘She’s so much better at it!’ “
Others came to his defense, with one quipping, “I think his comments were actually quite sensible and clearly meant in jest” and another fan tweeting, “Is Russell Brand the sexist monster everyone is making him out to be? Or just another imperfect, damaged human who doesn’t know the ‘right’ thing to say. I know plenty of dads like him, and far worse, but no-one interviews them.”
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Brand also revealed in the interview that he has never spent 24 hours alone with his children, since Laura “wouldn’t go away” for that long because she “respects and cares for their safety too much.”
“I’m very, very focused on the mystical connotations of Mabel‘s beauty and grace. Not so good on the [diapers] and making sure that they eat food,” he added, joking of his effect on his older child, “When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes.”
That doesn’t mean the Mentors author takes on zero of the task-oriented parts of parenting, though. As he explained to The Times, “Yesterday, I drove Mabel to the playschool and I drop her at the playschool.”
“But I’m sensitive and awake and aware, so I have to dial a lot of s— down to go through normal life,” Brand said.
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