British comedian and children’s author David Walliams, 55, is facing allegations of grooming teenage fans and the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. These claims surfaced following a joint investigation published by The Guardian newspaper and broadcaster ITV News on Tuesday.
In response to the report, Walliams issued a statement via his lawyers, categorically denying that he targeted teenagers or utilized his fame to manipulate individuals for sexual purposes. In a letter addressed to journalists, Walliams wrote, “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.” He acknowledged that he had “behaved thoughtlessly.”
Several women provided firsthand accounts of alleged misconduct. One woman, identified as “Jade,” stated that Walliams contacted her on social media when she was 15 and invited her to his home in 2007. She accused him of sexual assault and grooming. Walliams’s legal representatives have denied any sexual contact with her. Another woman, “Alex,” alleged that she first met the author when she was 15 and he was 32, claiming sexual contact occurred when she was 17 and he was 34. Walliams’s lawyers maintained that he believed Alex was 18 at the time.
The BBC has responded to the investigation by announcing plans to remove some programmes and conduct a comprehensive review of all material featuring or written by Walliams currently on its platforms. Prior to the report's publication, Walliams attempted to secure a court injunction to prevent his identification in the media, but a UK High Court judge blocked the request last week.
During the court proceedings, his lawyer, Sara Mansoori, informed the court that Walliams had attempted to take his own life twice after receiving inquiries from the publications. He was admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care last month, according to his legal counsel.
Key facts
- David Walliams is a 55-year-old British author known for his children’s books and the sketch show "Little Britain."
- The joint investigation into his alleged misconduct was published by The Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday.
- A UK High Court judge blocked the author's attempt to obtain an injunction preventing his name from being reported.
- The BBC stated it will review all content written by or featuring Walliams on its platforms.
- Walliams's publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him last year following separate allegations of harassment against colleagues, which he denied.
Why it matters
The allegations have prompted the BBC to review its library of content associated with the author, marking a significant professional fallout for the prominent public figure. Furthermore, a summary of the recent High Court judgment noted that some of the alleged conduct could constitute criminal offences if they are proven in a legal setting.
Background
Walliams gained prominence in the early 2000s through the BBC sketch show "Little Britain." As a children’s author, he has written over 40 books, including "Gangsta Granny" and "Mr. Stink," which have sold approximately 50 million copies globally. He previously served as a judge on the programme "Britain’s Got Talent" until 2022, when he stepped down following an apology for making disrespectful comments about contestants.
Source: Al Jazeera
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