Russell Brand Calls for Tickling Children to Banned: 'It Violates Their Space'
British comedian threatens to 'punch' anyone who tries to tickle his daughters
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Boisterous British comedian Russell Brand has called for a ban on tickling children, declaring that "it violates their personal space."
43-year-old Brand vowed to “punch” anyone who tries to tickle his daughters, Mabel, two, and Peggy, six months, saying it "subverts bodily autonomy."
The Essex, England-born star says he still feels “dreadful shame” at tickling his friend and fellow comedian David Baddiel’s son Ezra in the past.
“To recall doing this to Ez fills me with dreadful shame and makes me want to punch myself in the face,” he said during an interview with the Daily Star.
“Which is what I will do to anyone who tickles either of my daughters until they are old enough to decide for themselves whether they want to be tickled or not, which by my reckoning is at 35.”
He continued: “It is an attempt to subvert the child’s bodily autonomy, to take away their right to their own space and peace.
“Would you do it to an adult?
"Would you insert your rigid fingers into their belly or their armpits?
"Of course not.”
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According to the Daily Mail, Brand said he "loathes" it when people tickle children and believes they are "not old enough to decide for themselves" so it should be outlawed.
Brand is married to TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher's sister Laura, 31, who he lives with in a quiet Oxfordshire village.
He recently came under fire for admitting he has never spent 24 hours alone with their two daughters because their mother is more suited to the role.
He told The Sunday Times: "She wouldn't go away for 24 hours, Laura.
"Laura's able to sustain and maintain domesticity in a way that's astonishing.
"I didn't have much experience of how to organize domesticity.
"I do whatever I'm told.
'"t turns out that she is extremely well versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing."
He admitted he is "too sensitive" to change diapers and his "romantic, reflective, religious world view" prevents him from being a full-time parent.
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Opening up about his parenting, he revealed he takes a more “mystical” and “reflective” approach, which involves swerving the "nappy" (diaper) changing.
“Not so good on the nappies and making sure they eat food,” he told The Times.
“When I looked after Mabel on her own, she dropped two social classes in an hour.
"In no time at all, we’re in a coffee shop, she’s just got a nappy on and she’s covered in stuff because I’m not willing to fight any of the battles.”
He continued: “Laura does all of it. It turns out that she is extremely well versed in the nuances and complexities of child-rearing.”
Brand's comments caused outrage on social media where he was accused of being “sexist” by many.
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