Compensation demand over Brand's gag

A Welsh councilor has demanded Russell Brand pay compensation after one of his gags cast a ‘slur’ on her suburb.

At a gig in Cardiff on Sunday, the comic joked that everyone in the district of Tremorfa was a thief.

But Labour councillor Clarissa Holland, right, slammed his comments ‘outrageous’ and demanded he ‘put his hand in his pocket’ to make up for the slight.

She took offence at Brand reading out a story from the local newspaper about the theft of £500 from a Tremorfa school.

Using an audience member’s phone, he called the police hotline, claiming to have information about the crime, then added: ‘Well, it could have been anyone in Tremorfa really. They are all criminals.’

The line got a laugh from the 1,000 fans in St David’s Hall, and Brand carried on with the gig.

But Holland, who represents the wonderfully-named Splott ward, failed to see the funny side and complained to the South Wales Echo.

‘I am outraged,’ she said. ‘He was just doing it for a cheap laugh. If he was any sort of man he would make a donation to the school.

‘I will now be contacting him myself and asking him to put his hand in his pocket.

‘Tremorfa is a fantastic community, with the finest and best people you could ever hope to meet. It’s a slur.’

It is the second time Brand has upset Cardiff’s residents. Earlier this year he refused to apologise after he pulled out of a gig just 20 minutes before it was due to start.

Published: 3 Jul 2007