His comments at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards led to Brand receiving death threats from some offended viewers . Brand claimed that MTV asked him to host the 2009 awards after the ratings for the 2008 show were 20 percent higher than the previous year . Also in 2008 , Brand hosted a one-off stand up comedy show called '' Comedy Live Presents : Russell Brand and Friends '' , which was shown on Channel 4 on 25 January 2008 . Brand returned to host the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards , on 13 September 2009 , at Radio City Music Hall in New York City . The ratings for the 2009 show were the best since the 2004 VMAs . On 12 February 2011 , Brand guest hosted an episode of the hit American sketch comedy '' Saturday Night Live '' . Brand also hosted the 2012 MTV Movie Awards
2008 MTV Video Music Awards
2008 MTV Video Music Awards
Russell Brand