Ruben Owen

Ruben Chorlton-Owen (born 21 June 2001) is a Welsh content creator and social media personality who received international media attention in 2025 for complications following a hair transplant in Turkey, and in 2026 for being the subject of reporting on non-consensual AI-generated imagery produced by the Grok chatbot.

Early life

Chorlton-Owen was born on 21 June 2001 in Wales and has lived in Gwynedd.

Hair transplant complications and coverage (2025)

In 2025, Chorlton-Owen reported severe facial swelling after a hair transplant procedure in Turkey. The swelling was attributed to disregarding post-operative advice, including restrictions on physical activity. The incident was cited in reports as an example of risks associated with medical tourism and the importance of aftercare in cosmetic surgery.

The case was featured as a case study in a Fantástico segment on TV Globo, Brazil’s major investigative programme, which explored Turkey as a global hub for hair transplants.

VICE published an in-depth article analysing the medical consequences of ignoring post-surgical restrictions, quoting Chorlton-Owen on the effects (“blew up like a balloon”, “stung by 100 bees”).

Additional coverage appeared in international outlets, including RTL (Germany), HLN (Belgium), Esquire Greece, and News18 (India).

AI-generated imagery and regulatory coverage (2026)

In January 2026, Chorlton-Owen was featured in UK media discussing non-consensual sexualised images of himself generated using the Grok AI chatbot on X (formerly Twitter). He described the experience as humiliating and making him feel vulnerable, highlighting risks for content creators with public photos.

The issue formed part of broader reporting on Ofcom’s investigation into Grok under the Online Safety Act, including potential platform bans or fines.

He appeared in a Welsh-language broadcast segment on S4C (BBC Cymru Wales), discussing consent and AI impacts.