Russell Brand to Return as Host of MTV VMAs

USMagazine, Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 7:21am (PDT)

Controversial comic Russell Brand is set to host MTV's annual Video Music Awards Sept. 13 in New York City, the network confirmed in a statement Tuesday.

Assuming hosting duties for the second year in a row, Brand -- who is currently filming the sequel to Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- was welcomed back with open arms, despite causing controversy at last year's event by ribbing the Jonas Brothers in his opening monologue.

Look back at the 2008 Video Music Awards.

During the show's open, Brand (a confessed former sex addict) repeatedly joked about the Jonas' purity rings, saying they should take advantage of their celeb status to get lucky. He later apologized.

"We are thrilled that despite numerous death threats from Jonas Brothers fans, Russell Brand has accepted our offer to put his life on the line and host the VMAs again this year," MTV's General Manager, Stephen Friedman, told Usmagazine.com in a statement.

See last year's best-dressed VMA stars.

Country teen queen Taylor Swift will also appear on the live broadcast, performing a never-before heard version of her hit "You Belong With Me."