Brand lives in Hampstead, London,[52] with his cat, which he named after the singer Morrissey, of whom Brand is a big fan.[53]
He has been a vegetarian since the age of 14,[54] and is a fan of football and a supporter of West Ham United; Brand says that his love of football is "intrinsically about my relationship with my father".[55] He dresses in a flamboyant bohemian fashion, describing himself as looking like an "S&M Willy Wonka".[56] He has bipolar disorder,[57] and he has suffered from bulimia in the past.[54] He also went through a period of self-harm.[58]
Brand is a former heroin and sex addict and a recovering alcoholic. He has had numerous run-ins with the police, having been arrested 11 times.[59] During the time of his addiction, he was known for his debauchery. Brand was ejected from The Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh,[60] and he infamously introduced his drug dealer to Kylie Minogue during his time at MTV.[61] He has abstained from drug use since 2002 and is now a patron of the addiction charity Focus 12.[62] His abandonment of drugs and alcohol was instigated by his agent, John Noel, after Brand was caught taking heroin in a bathroom during his Christmas party.[63] Brand regularly attends AA and NA meetings.[64]