Kony video director in hospital

The co-founder of Invisible Children has been taken to hospital in California after he was found in his underwear screaming at…

The co-founder of Invisible Children has been taken to hospital in California after he was found in his underwear screaming at traffic.

San Diego police found Jason Russell, the filmmaker behind the internet sensation Kony 2012 video, after responding to calls about a man who was acting irrationally, a San Diego police spokeswoman said.

He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment, and the police have no plans to charge him.

"It's our belief that a medical condition would explain his irrational behaviour as opposed to criminal intent," said Lt Andra Brown, the spokeswoman.

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"If we thought he was under the influence, we wouldn't have taken him to a hospital; we would have taken him to jail."

The 30-minute Kony 2012 video has been viewed nearly 80 million times on YouTube since March 5th.

It has thrust a sudden celebrity upon Mr Russell (33) who narrates the video and appears in it with his young son, appealing to viewers to bring more attention to the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony and advocating his arrest.

That success has brought criticism of Invisible Children for the way it spends its money, for a photograph of its founders, including Mr Russell, holding rifles, and for other matters.

In a statement, Ben Keesey, chief executive of Invisible Children, said: "The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday."

Mr Russell was suffering from "exhaustion, dehydration and malnutrition," Mr Keesey said. He said Russell "is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better."

New York Times