British comedian and TV personality David Walliams has been accused of preying on women and teenage girls for sex, UK media reports allege.
Walliams, best known for co-creating and starring in sketch comedy Little Britian and writing children’s books, was revealed as the celebrity at the centre of sexual abuse allegations late on Tuesday.
The three-year joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian alleges Walliams, 55, abused his power as a celebrity to prey on multiple women for sexual purposes when they were teenagers or young and vulnerable.
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Walliams denied all allegations, including any criminal behaviour, the ITV report says.
“I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law… I am devastated that some of the women I met ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me,” his statement to the publications said.
The 55-year-old brought legal action against broadcaster ITN and GNM, publisher of The Guardian, ahead of the two organisations reporting allegations against him.
Walliams unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent the media reports, with his lawyers arguing there was a risk he would take his own life after two previous attempts.
David Walliams denies the allegations. Credit: VC/AP
The author was granted anonymity during the proceedings, which was lifted after his injunction bid was dismissed and GNM and ITN published their investigations on Tuesday.
Women as young as 15 make allegations
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One accuser, a woman using the pseudonym Jade, alleged she first came into contact with Walliams in 2007 after commenting on a photo of him on MySpace. She claimed the Little Britain star sent her private messages despite her profile displaying her date of birth, which showed she was 15.
Jade told the investigation that she replied to a subsequent message and that Walliams asked for her phone number before calling her within minutes. She alleged the initial conversation was largely casual but marked the beginning of ongoing contact via email.
According to Jade, the pair later arranged to meet at a London cafe after Walliams’ 36th birthday. She alleged that during the meeting he asked personal questions, including whether she had ever had sex.
After leaving the cafe, Jade claimed Walliams led her into an alleyway to say goodbye, where she alleges he kissed her. She further alleged he invited her to his home, where the encounter became more intimate.
“He lifted my top up and sucked on my breast and then tried to put my hand down his trousers. That’s when I pulled away and said ‘no’. He had an erection at the time,” she told the publications.
“I wasn’t ready for sex. I didn’t want to do that, with him or with anyone. I was only a 15-year-old.”
“He said that we should wait until I’m 16 and to keep in contact. That comment will always stick out in my mind… That’s a very strange thing to say. He obviously wanted that one thing.”
Walliams strongly denies that he had any sexual contact with Jade.
Walliams is best known for co-writing and starring in Little Britain Credit: Alastair Grant/AP
Another woman, identified by the pseudonym Alex, alleged she was 15 when she met Walliams, then 32, in 2004 at a Little Britain fan event. She recalled Walliams saying, “you’re a very attractive young lady”.
Alex wanted to be a comedy writer so gave Walliams her cover letter with her contact details. Several days later, she alleges he called her.
She claimed he “groomed” her over several years by helping with scripts and offering to arrange work experience in television.
Alex alleged that when she was 17, the pair had sex at Walliams’ London home. She claimed he kissed her forcefully before the encounter progressed, and said she felt unable to assert control over the situation.
“I never said no, but I felt unable to say anything or have any control in that situation once I was with him,” she alleged.
Walliams denied grooming Alex and believed when they had sex, she was 18. ITV said Walliams was “mortified to learn” that their “brief, consensual relationship has caused her sadness.”
Staff at Britain’s Got Talent reveal allegations
A number of allegations from other women were aired by the publications, including by staff of Britain’s Got Talent which Walliams was a host on between 2012 and 2022.
A 24-year-old employee says she overheard Walliams referring to her “as the arse”, which made her “feel small and almost disembodied”.
She said she felt the need to “protect” herself and “avoid” the TV judge entirely while at work.
“The one interaction I had with him before I started avoiding him, [was when] he’d been staring at my chest rather than acknowledging me as a person,” she added.
Walliams told the investigation he did not recall making the remark.
Walliams was a host on Britain’s Got Talent. Credit: Lionel Cironneau/AP
Another former employee alleged he was once called to Walliams’ dressing room and found him wearing only a towel after a shower while two “very young” people were present.
The employee claimed there was a widespread perception among staff that Walliams’ behaviour could be sexually inappropriate and uncomfortable.
He claimed he received a gift card from Walliams which another staff member called “hush money”. Walliams denies the allegation and describes it as “smear”.
Walliams stepped down from the show after the Guardian published a leaked recording where he could be heard making sexually explicit remarks about contestants on the show.
The 55-year-old appeared as judge on Australia’s Got Talent on the tenth season in 2022.
Allegations of misconduct at former publisher
The publications also raised allegations of misconduct by Walliams at his publisher HarperCollins. Walliams is accused of pursuing junior employees and having a sexual relationship with an intern.
He denies wrongdoing and rejects the allegations.
Walliams was dropped by HarperCollins last year after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
Walliams denies the allegations
Walliams said in a statement in response to the investigation: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with…”
“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret.
“And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did…
“I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law… I am devastated that some of the women I met ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Walliams is known for comedy shows including Come Fly With Me and Little Britain, and has sold more than 60 million copies of his children’s books globally.
They include The Boy In The Dress, Fing and Gangsta Granny, the latter of which was turned into a one-hour BBC special in 2013, followed by a sequel starring Sheridan Smith in 2022.
Earlier this month, UK theme park Alton Towers permanently closed its World Of David Walliams attraction, which featured rides inspired by the books.
With AAP.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028, the WA Sexual Assault Resource Centre on 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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