A Welsh town councillor has quit his role over a false allegation that he is secretly world-renowned street artist Banksy. William 'Billy' Gannon, who served Pembroke Dock's Bufferland ward, announced his resignation "with immediate effect" in a letter to Pembroke Dock Town Council on Friday, May 20.
He wrote that a "number of people" believed the rumour, which was undermining his ability to do his work as councillor and council representative. He added that he didn't want the allegation to bring the town council into disrepute.
He wrote on Facebook: "Hello Everyone, I sent this letter to PDTC on Friday. Good Morning Sarah, please share the following with all Members of the Town Council. As you may be aware an allegation has been repeatedly made that I am not who I say I am but that I am the Artist Banksy. A number of people believe that this allegation is true.
"This allegation is undermining my ability to do the work of Councillor and Council Rep properly. I do not want this allegation to undermine the reputation of Pembroke Dock Town Council. Therefore, I have decided to step down as both Town Councillor and Council Rep to The Port with immediate effect. Thank you for all of the support that you have given me in the past. Regards, Billy."
The admin for community Facebook group 'Pembroke Dock & Pembroke Citizens Forum' shared Mr Gannon's announcement. He said he was "sickened" that the councillor was resigning due to alleged "ongoing harassment and intimidation", which he revealed had brought disruption to both the work of the council and Mr Gannon's family life. You can read all our stories about Pembrokeshire here.
He claimed that the councillor had been stalked in his own home and had been subject to "numerous personal attacks" on four social media pages. He added that police are investigating complaints from at least nine other alleged victims
Mr Gannon told The Sun that comparisons had been made between himself and Banksy, whose real identity has never been confirmed, because he is also a community street artist and has worked in similar places and at similar times to the anonymous artist.
But, determined to quash the rumours for good, Mr Gannon has now created badges with the words "I am not Banksy", which he will be distributing for free this week.
The only street art in Wales that has been confirmed to be that of Banksy is an artwork that appeared in Port Talbot in 2018. Season's Greetings, as the painting was officially named, shows a child dressed for snow playing in the falling ash and smoke from a skip fire, which once spanned over two walls of a nondescript garage. To get more stories like this sent straight to your inbox, click here.
