Don't mess with Russell Brand.
The 38-year-old funnyman appeared on Morning Joe Monday morning where he was invited to chat about his upcoming world comedy tour, Messiah Complex. The chat started off with talk ranging from the tour's inspirations, which include world figures such as Che Guevara and Mahatma Gandhi, as well as Brand's boots.
Which, was all fine, until panelist Brian Shactman followed up a "serious" question by saying he couldn't understand Brand's accent when he heard him on the radio. This led into more talk with cohost Mika Brzezinski and fellow panelists Katty Kay on the topic while referring to him in third person.
Safe to say Brand, who was sitting right there, was not having it.
"You're talking about me as if I'm not here and I'm as if I'm an extraterrestrial…Thank you for your casual objectification," he says as the Morning Joe crew becomes noticeably uncomfortable.
And he doesn't stop there (after all, this is Russell Brand). The comic took the reins of the show, first by doing some analysis of Brzezinski, and then schooling the assembled on both matters of etiquette and how to do a topical political show with some pretty spot-on news anchor talk.
"Is this what you all do for a living? OK, well let me help you. I'm here to promote a tour called Messiah Complex," he said in one flourish, "These people I'm sure are typically very good at their jobs. You're conveying news to the people of America? People of America, we're going to be OK."
The Get Him to the Greek star completes his genial morning show takeover (and anchor embarrassment) by commenting on the way Brzezinski is holding her water bottle...and well, we'll leave it at that.
So, that happened. And somehow we're not surprised.
(E! and MSNBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
What do you think of Brand's interview? Tell us in the comments!