For many people that have gotten caught doing awful things, there are positive things you can say about them. "I liked Tom Cruise in Top Gun." "I liked Mel Gibson in Mad Max." "I probably never laughed harder at a comedian than Louis C.K." I don't like appearing to support these people, so I avoid saying these things out loud. Richard went the other way with Graham Linehan's book earlier in the week, and - I don't know how friendly they are off-camera - but, I suppose Richard's publicist is concerned about him saying something nice about Brand this week.