Russell Brand spots homeless busker, gives him a job.. then dumps him

Russell Brand spots homeless busker, gives him a job.. then dumps him

It was like a script from a ­Hollywood movie when busker Go O’Prey was spotted by star Russell Brand as he passed by in his luxury car.

The impressed comic wound the window down and gave him a 20 dollar bill. Go played him a few more songs, told him his hard-luck story... and Russell hired him on the spot to perform on his US TV show.

The astonished 52-year-old singer got a standing ovation on his first appearance alongside the comic and thought his troubles were over.

Dumpsville: Go O'Prey - Russell Brand Hired him to work on his show

 

But he was in for a shock. Because just a month after hiring him... Russell fired him.

Now Go, who called himself “Russell Brand’s crack addict uncle” as a joke on stage, is back busking on the street.

“I was devastated. It broke my heart,” he said in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mirror.

“Performing with Russell, it felt like everything that I’d been working towards in my life was finally coming together.”

The audience loved the wild-haired busker on his debut in February at the ComedySportz Theatre in LA where Russell was filming his Brand X TV show.

Stand-up: Comedian Russell was impressed by Go

Russell, himself a former drug addict, even picked up on Go’s crack joke, telling the applauding audience: “He really is a crack addict. He likes it so much that he would rather have it than having a house. Given a simple choice between crack and a house... crack please!

Russell later added: “He was moderately good although some people said the crack somewhat affected his performance.”

But when Go later turned up to perform at another of the comic’s recordings at the Largo Theatre â€" the place where was busking outside when Russell spotted him â€" he found his way barred.

“The manager wouldn’t let me in. We almost came to blows one time while I was playing outside,” said Go.

“I thought Russell would smooth things out. But I waited an hour for him and when he arrived he just walked right past me.

“Russell’s manager later came out and told me there was nothing they could do. I lost my temper and shouted at him. I called him a few names and I don’t think he appreciated it.

“I emailed Russell later to apologise but he didn’t get back to me. I haven’t heard from him since. I thought it was a pretty lousy way for him to treat someone he thought was a homeless crack addict, even though I’m not.

Venue: The National Comedy theatre

           

“A lot of people assume I’m on drugs, but in fact I’ve never touched crack. Russell asked if I was homeless when I met him and I tried to explain to him that I used to sleep in my car but I am now sleeping on my friend’s couch.

“He didn’t listen. He just assumed I was a homeless crack addict.”

Go, from Iowa, who says his family has roots in Northern Ireland, revealed he was paid the equivalent of just £40 for his debut.

But he thought he had made it when Russell stopped his big SUV outside the Largo that January day as he played Wonderwall by Oasis. He told the star how he had moved to Hollywood in 1997 but how times were so tough he was earning only 15 dollars (£10) a day.

“I’ve been a musician and stand-up for years, but have had so many knockbacks since I arrived in LA,” said Go. “I felt I finally had the wind in my sails. Now I don’t know what I’m going to do.”