Backlash after councillor tells Russell Brand to 'stay strong'

Convicted rapist Russell Brand would have been "viewed differently" if he was "Muslim or an illegal migrant invader", a Restore Britain councillor has said.

Owain Clatworthy said "the same people screaming for his head right now would be calling the charges 'Islamophobic', demanding the case be dropped, and accusing anyone who noticed of racism".

He made the comments on social media, and claimed he had received death threats as a result, which South Wales Police was investigating.

On Monday, Brand, 51, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Bridgend council leaders said they "unequivocally reject" Clatworthy's claims.

Clatworthy and Restore Britian have been approached for comment.

Warning: The article below contains strong language readers may find offensive.

In another post, Clatworthy said the "real pressure only kicked off once he [Brand] questions the elites, rejected the Covid narrative and publicly found Jesus".

He went on: "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."

Council leader John Spanswick, leader of Bridgend county independents Amanda Williams and leader of democratic alliance Ross Penhale-Thomas said in a joint statement: "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."

Independent county borough councillor for Pencoed and Heol-y-CywI Alex Williams called for Clatworthy to resign.

On social media, he said: "To see a county borough councillor here in Bridgend defend the convicted rapist, Russell Brand, and saying 'stay strong Russell' after he had been unanimously found guilty of the most serious of sexual offences means that Cllr Clatworthy is not fit for public office.

"For someone who has claimed to support policies to protect women and girls, his hypocritical support for a convicted abuser is astounding. He should either resign or the good people of Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr should make their views known at the ballot box next May and reject these vile and reprehensible views."

On Monday, Clathworthy posted on Facebook: "I reported a death threat calling for my assassination to South Wales Police. They have dealt with this latest incident professionally and promptly as they should."

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said it was "aware of a comment on Facebook towards the councillor over the weekend, this is currently under investigation".

Clatworthy was elected as a councillor for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Cribwr ward in Bridgend in 2025.

He then stood as a Reform UK candidate in the Pen-y-Bont Bro Morgannwg constituency in May's Senedd election.

He was sixth on the list, but left in protest at the selection process.

He left the party because "recent events, including poor internal decision making, a lack of discipline and serious concerns around candidate selection, have made it clear to me that Reform UK is no longer operating in a way that reflects the standards I believe the public deserve".

He accused the party of selecting individuals "with little or no connection to the communities they seek to represent".

He became an independent councillor, but then joined Restore Britain.