March 19, 2012


'You're the devil, you're the devil': New footage of Kony video director emerges 'ranting at traffic while naked on busy street'


  • Jason Russell, co-founder of the charity Invisible Children, was being held in a psychiatric ward after reportedly masturbating and running naked through the streets

  • His wife Danica has blamed his breakdown on the attention and personal criticism the YouTube film has generated 

  • Ugandan government released YouTube response - dismissing the 'slick' video and saying militant leader Joseph Kony was no longer in the country

New footage has emerged of one of the directors of the Kony 2012 video running along a busy street naked while cursing and ranting about the devil. 
Invisible Children co-founder Jason Russell was taken away by San Diego police responding to complaints about him cursing, potentially masturbating and hitting the pavement while naked at an  intersection.
After fighting off criticism of the Kony 2012 video following its instant popularity- 82 million people have watched the film about the Ugandan war criminal - Mr Russell's public breakdown will likely cause more problems for the controversial charity.
Scroll down for video
Disturbed: Kony 2012 co-founder Jason Russell was caught having his public meltdown on camera
Disturbed: Kony 2012 co-founder Jason Russell was caught having his public meltdown on camera
Well, hello: A confused onlooker watches as Russell proceeds to talk to himself about the devil and curse
Well, hello: A confused onlooker watches as Russell proceeds to talk to himself about the devil and curse
TMZ released a close-range video of Mr Russell pacing back and forth along a busy San Diego sidewalk, shouting: 'You're the devil.'
He is shown talking to himself, cursing, clapping and waving his hands.
He was allegedly being held in a 5150 psychiatric ward in San Diego and should be released today.
The Kony film has prompted a response from the Prime Minister of Uganda, saying that the warlord at the heart of the video is not in his country.
Breakdown: Jason Russell was hospitalized for exhaustion after behaving bizarrely in the streets while naked
Breakdown: Jason Russell was hospitalized for exhaustion after behaving bizarrely in the streets while naked
Naked meltdown: Kony 2012 video director Jason Russell caught acting strangely on the Streets on San Diego
Naked meltdown: Kony 2012 video director Jason Russell caught acting strangely on the Streets on San Diego
Arrested: Jason Russell, director of the 'Kony 2012' video, was allegedly seen wandering the streets drunk
Arrested: Jason Russell, director of the 'Kony 2012' video, was allegedly seen wandering the streets drunk
Adopting the social media strategies that helped the charity, Invisible Children, create an internet sensation with their Kony 2012 video, Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabazi said that the charity's video gives a 'false impression' and that Joseph Kony is no longer in the country.
'The Kony 2012 campaign fails to make one crucial point clear. Joseph Kony is not in Uganda,' Mr Mbabazi said in a nine-minute video posted on YouTube.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation.
Mbabazi said Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice.'
Taking another page out of Invisible Children's playbook, Mr Mbabazi Tweeted his message at celebrities to attract attention. 
He wrote a very similar message to a handful of stars: 'As PM of Uganda I invite you to visit the Pearl of Africa & see the peace that exists in our wonderful country #KonyisntinUganda'.
Among the recipients were Rhianna, Stephen Colbert, Taylor Swift, Ryan Seacrest, Tim Tebow and Rush Limbaugh. 
 
Mr Russell, 33, was calm and co-operative when apprehended by police, according to NBC San Diego, but seemed to be under the influence of alcohol.
Danica has denied that her husband has any substance abuse or drinking problems.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation and that Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation and that Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice
Spreading the word: Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabasi Tweeted his message at celebrities
Spreading the word: Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabasi Tweeted his message at celebrities
Although he was not charged with a crime, officials decided that he should be committed to hospital for medical treatment following the incident.
'During the evaluation we learned that we probably needed to take care of him,' a police spokesman said.
'So officers detained him and transferred him to a local medical facility for further evaluation and treatment.'
Ben Keesey, chief executive of Invisible Children, the charity set up in 2004 by Mr Russell and two friends, issued a statement of support for his colleague.
Campaigner: Mr Russell on a trip to Africa, where he was first inspired to set up the charity Invisible Children
Campaigner: Mr Russell on a trip to Africa, where he was first inspired to set up the charity Invisible Children
'Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalised yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition,' he said.
'The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday.
'We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.'
The charity, which aims to raise awareness of the atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, sprang to worldwide fame last week after releasing an online video entitled 'Kony 2012'.
Activist: The campaigner giving an impassioned talk about his work
Activist: The campaigner giving an impassioned talk about his work
Target: Mr Russell's video is aimed at Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony
Target: Mr Russell's video is aimed at Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony
The 30-minute film, directed by Mr Russell, documents the activities of LRA leader Joseph Kony, notorious for his reign of terror in central Africa and particularly his use of child soldiers.
However, critics claim that the film over-simplifies a complex conflict and diverts attention from more pressing causes.
Father-of-two Mr Russell is an evangelical Christian who is described by Invisible Children as 'our grand storyteller and dreamer'.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Video: Jason Russell answers critics of his film and San Diego police make a statement


 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2116981/Jason-Russell-arrested-New-footage-Kony-2012-video-director-ranting-naked-emerges.html#ixzz1pbo0yUn8


'You're the devil, you're the devil': New footage of Kony video director emerges 'ranting at traffic while naked on busy street'

  • Jason Russell, co-founder of the charity Invisible Children, was being held in a psychiatric ward after reportedly masturbating and running naked through the streets
  • His wife Danica has blamed his breakdown on the attention and personal criticism the YouTube film has generated 
  • Ugandan government released YouTube response - dismissing the 'slick' video and saying militant leader Joseph Kony was no longer in the country

New footage has emerged of one of the directors of the Kony 2012 video running along a busy street naked while cursing and ranting about the devil. 
Invisible Children co-founder Jason Russell was taken away by San Diego police responding to complaints about him cursing, potentially masturbating and hitting the pavement while naked at an  intersection.
After fighting off criticism of the Kony 2012 video following its instant popularity- 82 million people have watched the film about the Ugandan war criminal - Mr Russell's public breakdown will likely cause more problems for the controversial charity.
Scroll down for video
Disturbed: Kony 2012 co-founder Jason Russell was caught having his public meltdown on camera
Disturbed: Kony 2012 co-founder Jason Russell was caught having his public meltdown on camera
Well, hello: A confused onlooker watches as Russell proceeds to talk to himself about the devil and curse
Well, hello: A confused onlooker watches as Russell proceeds to talk to himself about the devil and curse
TMZ released a close-range video of Mr Russell pacing back and forth along a busy San Diego sidewalk, shouting: 'You're the devil.'
He is shown talking to himself, cursing, clapping and waving his hands.
He was allegedly being held in a 5150 psychiatric ward in San Diego and should be released today.
The Kony film has prompted a response from the Prime Minister of Uganda, saying that the warlord at the heart of the video is not in his country.
Breakdown: Jason Russell was hospitalized for exhaustion after behaving bizarrely in the streets while naked
Breakdown: Jason Russell was hospitalized for exhaustion after behaving bizarrely in the streets while naked
Naked meltdown: Kony 2012 video director Jason Russell caught acting strangely on the Streets on San Diego
Naked meltdown: Kony 2012 video director Jason Russell caught acting strangely on the Streets on San Diego
Arrested: Jason Russell, director of the 'Kony 2012' video, was allegedly seen wandering the streets drunk
Arrested: Jason Russell, director of the 'Kony 2012' video, was allegedly seen wandering the streets drunk
Adopting the social media strategies that helped the charity, Invisible Children, create an internet sensation with their Kony 2012 video, Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabazi said that the charity's video gives a 'false impression' and that Joseph Kony is no longer in the country.
'The Kony 2012 campaign fails to make one crucial point clear. Joseph Kony is not in Uganda,' Mr Mbabazi said in a nine-minute video posted on YouTube.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation.
Mbabazi said Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice.'
Taking another page out of Invisible Children's playbook, Mr Mbabazi Tweeted his message at celebrities to attract attention. 
He wrote a very similar message to a handful of stars: 'As PM of Uganda I invite you to visit the Pearl of Africa & see the peace that exists in our wonderful country #KonyisntinUganda'.
Among the recipients were Rhianna, Stephen Colbert, Taylor Swift, Ryan Seacrest, Tim Tebow and Rush Limbaugh. 
 
Mr Russell, 33, was calm and co-operative when apprehended by police, according to NBC San Diego, but seemed to be under the influence of alcohol.
Danica has denied that her husband has any substance abuse or drinking problems.
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation and that Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice
The Prime Minister insisted that the Kony 2012 video did not represent the current situation in the east African nation and that Uganda was on Kony's trail but said they did not 'need a slick video on YouTube... to take notice
Spreading the word: Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabasi Tweeted his message at celebrities
Spreading the word: Ugandan prime minister Amama Mbabasi Tweeted his message at celebrities
Although he was not charged with a crime, officials decided that he should be committed to hospital for medical treatment following the incident.
'During the evaluation we learned that we probably needed to take care of him,' a police spokesman said.
'So officers detained him and transferred him to a local medical facility for further evaluation and treatment.'
Ben Keesey, chief executive of Invisible Children, the charity set up in 2004 by Mr Russell and two friends, issued a statement of support for his colleague.
Campaigner: Mr Russell on a trip to Africa, where he was first inspired to set up the charity Invisible Children
Campaigner: Mr Russell on a trip to Africa, where he was first inspired to set up the charity Invisible Children
'Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalised yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition,' he said.
'The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday.
'We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time.'
The charity, which aims to raise awareness of the atrocities committed by the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, sprang to worldwide fame last week after releasing an online video entitled 'Kony 2012'.
Activist: The campaigner giving an impassioned talk about his work
Activist: The campaigner giving an impassioned talk about his work
Target: Mr Russell's video is aimed at Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony
Target: Mr Russell's video is aimed at Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony
The 30-minute film, directed by Mr Russell, documents the activities of LRA leader Joseph Kony, notorious for his reign of terror in central Africa and particularly his use of child soldiers.
However, critics claim that the film over-simplifies a complex conflict and diverts attention from more pressing causes.
Father-of-two Mr Russell is an evangelical Christian who is described by Invisible Children as 'our grand storyteller and dreamer'.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

Video: Jason Russell answers critics of his film and San Diego police make a statement


 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2116981/Jason-Russell-arrested-New-footage-Kony-2012-video-director-ranting-naked-emerges.html#ixzz1pbo0yUn8