Toby Young’s Owen Jones ‘gotcha’ over Russell Brand blew up in his face

Poke Staff. Updated September 20th, 2023

You’ll be familiar with the work – well, a bit of it – of Toby Young, the ‘social commentator’ who is also general secretary of the Free Speech Union and editor-in-chief of something called the Daily Sceptic.

We mention him because he took aim at Guardian columnist Owen Jones over Russell Brand and it probably didn’t go entirely the way he was hoping.

It all began on GB News – stick with us – where Andrew Pierce took issue with the eye-opening response of his co-presenter Bev Turner to the Brand allegations (which he has denied).

It really is quite the watch (read more about it over here).

On GB News we put free speech first – even when we disagree with each other. @toryboypierce furiously clashes with @beverleyturner over a tweet in which she called Russell Brand a ‘hero’ after an investigation uncovered accusations of rape and sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/TlCY0gGc7a

— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 18, 2023

Here’s what Jones made of the whole thing.

It’s commendable Turner is challenged here – but it’s beyond shocking that a channel is allowed to tolerate a presenter holding these views.

Calling someone a hero after they’re accused of rape and sexual assault will have a traumatic impact on other survivors of male violence. https://t.co/2Xf0SsCdYU

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 18, 2023

Which prompted Young to share this old pic of Jones and Brand together.

https://t.co/bHBPn0zVRG pic.twitter.com/ZlvYsu2QLB

— Toby Young (@toadmeister) September 19, 2023

Except if he was hoping for a ‘gotcha’ it didn’t quite work out that way.

1) You’ve shared a nearly decade old picture when I chaired a Guardian Live event with Russell Brand, which is part of my job.

2) I’m criticising Beverley Turner for defending Brand after these sickening allegations.

3) Guilt by association? Really? https://t.co/TR5ij6JCyf pic.twitter.com/sZuEuoRzDv

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 19, 2023

Ooof.

No part of this isn’t grimly funny https://t.co/AVjCFvguB1

— David Aaronovitch (@DAaronovitch) September 19, 2023

Last word to Jones.

What we should be focusing on are the women who have come forward with truly horrendous allegations.

Those trying to act out their political grudges are frankly beneath contempt.

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 19, 2023

Okay, one more then.

Come. On. pic.twitter.com/68vybKmEG3

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) September 19, 2023

No further response yet from Young, choosing not to exercise his right to free speech on this occasion.

Source @OwenJones84