Russell Brand accused of homophobia after saying: ‘Shut up you Harry Potter poofs’

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Russell Brand is facing calls to apologise after he used a homophobic slur during an address at the Cambridge Students’ Union (CSU).

The comedian had been invited to speak by the student body and was looking at the various college crests before making the comment.

In a bid to quiet the winning college who cheered as he selected their crest, he yelled out: “Shut up you Harry Potter poofs.” Whilst many found this funny, some have spoken out against the use of the term.

CUSU LGBT representative Charlie Bell told Cambridge student newspaper Varsity: “It was a bit of a shock to hear that the word ‘poof’ is considered an appropriate term to level as an insult, especially by someone like Brand, who models himself as the very model of a modern liberal… he should apologise unreservedly and immediately.”

In November, Brand made an expletive-laden rant about David Cameron and George Osborne, dubbing them “posh w***ers” and suggested they are indifferent to gay rights – despite their widespread support for legalising equal marriage in England and Wales.

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