A Welsh councillor has told Russell Brand to "stay strong" after the comedian was found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Owain Clatworthy, councillor for Pyle, Kenfig Hill, and Cefn Cribwr, suggested Brand's conviction was evidence of a "corrupt two-tier justice system" and said he was the victim of a "witch hunt".
Guilty verdicts and trial details
A weeks-long trial heard how Brand, now 51, preyed on women he encountered while becoming one of Britain's best-known stand-up comedians, a lauded TV and radio host, and a Hollywood movie star. He faces a lengthy prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of raping one of his fans and sexually assaulting three women during his showbiz career.
Following the guilty verdicts, Mr Clatworthy took to social media to seemingly send his support to Brand. His comments have been widely condemned, including by Bridgend council's leaders who said they "unequivocally reject the comments". The council added that they respect the judicial process and firmly stand with survivors of sexual abuse.
Councillor's social media post
In the post, Mr Clatworthy, who was first elected as a Reform UK councillor in May 2025 before defecting to Restore Britain earlier in 2026, said Brand was the victim of a "witch hunt". He suggested the comedian was targeted when he began to "challenge the system" and "turning to God". He also said that the media "dug up old claims from decades ago, when he was living a very different life."
The full post reads: "How can anyone trust this corrupt TWO-TIER British justice system? Russell Brand was just found guilty after years of media attacks and a full on witch hunt. Funny how the real pressure only kicked off once he questioned the elites, rejected the COVID narrative, and publicly found Jesus as his Lord and Savior. They dug up old claims from decades ago, when he was living a very different life, and turned it into a show trial to silence a man who got off the establishment script and started speaking truth. Two tier justice is real, the powerful get protection, while anyone who challenges the system and turns to God gets targeted. This is why so many people have zero trust in these institutions. Stay strong, Russell."
Council response and complaints
Bridgend council said it had received a number of complaints about Mr Clatworthy's comments. In a joint statement by the political group leaders of Bridgend County Borough Council, council leader John Spanswick, leader of independents Amanda Williams and Ross Penhale-Thomas, leader of the Democratic Alliance, said the council was looking into Mr Clatworthy's comments.
The full statement said: "Bridgend County Borough Council has received a number of complaints regarding social media posts made by Councillor Owain Clatworthy, elected member for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward. Council officers are responding to those complaints and will ensure complainants are directed to the appropriate process as the council does not itself have the authority to investigate these matters. As political group leaders, we unequivocally reject the comments that have been made. We stand firmly with victims and survivors of sexual abuse and believe that such matters must always be treated with seriousness, sensitivity and respect. We also reaffirm our respect for the judicial process and the rule of law. Individual elected members are entitled to express their own views, but the comments made are Councillor Clatworthy's own and do not represent the views or values of Bridgend County Borough Council."
Mr Clatworthy has previously faced a barrage of criticism for controversial posts he has made on social media. Member of the Senedd for Pen-y-bont Bro Morgannwg Sarah Rees said comments he made were "hateful" and also described them as "deeply divisive" and "dangerous", including one where he said Islam was not compatible with western civilisation. In a response to questions previously, Mr Clatworthy, who became Bridgend's youngest ever councillor at 20 years old, denied that his posts were racist or divisive, adding that he did not feel he had breached the councillors' code of conduct.
