David Walliams identified after judge rejects ban on reporting sexual misconduct claims
Two British outlets detail interviews with women who accused the author of grooming and assault, ending a months-long legal fight over his identity.
By Beatriz Soto ·
David Walliams, 55, has been publicly named in reports alleging he used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex. ITV News and The Guardian published a joint investigation on Tuesday, ending a months-long delay caused by a court injunction that protected his identity. The publication allows the public and potential victims to see the specific claims against the comedian and author without legal barriers.
The investigation features firsthand accounts from multiple women. One woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by Walliams at his London home when she was 15. Other accusers described being groomed during their teenage years. Attorney Gavin Millar, representing the media companies, told the High Court that the allegations were gathered after a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation involving more than 100 people. The court summary noted that Walliams allegedly used his status to establish contact with young women, some considerably younger than him, and engaged in seriously inappropriate conduct over several years.
Walliams denied the allegations in a letter to the news organizations. He stated, “I am not a sexual predator,” and added that he had not broken the law. He expressed devastation that women he met 10 to 20 years ago now feel hurt or anger toward him. Walliams acknowledged a power imbalance due to his fame but claimed he never abused that power.
The legal battle centered on Walliams’ request to bar the outlets from identifying him. His lawyer, Sara Mansoori, told the court that he had made suicide attempts after receiving letters from the media seeking his response. She said he was recently admitted to a hospital for psychiatric care. Justice Matthew Nicklin dismissed the injunction bid last week. He ruled that blocking the reports would be an exceptionally serious interference with media rights. Although the judge noted Walliams had a serious and longstanding psychiatric vulnerability, he found the evidence did not establish that suicide was inevitable.
The Metropolitan Police contacted the news organizations on Tuesday to inform potential victims how to report criminal allegations. The court summary indicated that some of the alleged conduct could amount to criminal offenses if proven. The Guardian also reported that concerns about Walliams’ behavior existed for years, including an allegation of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior female employee.
Professional repercussions followed immediately. The BBC said it is removing some programs, including Little Britain, while it reviews all material featuring and written by Walliams. Producers of the upcoming film Fing! stated that Walliams will have no involvement in the release or promotion, and his cameo was removed. Sky dropped the U.K. distribution rights, and the literary agency Independent Talent Group dropped him. HarperCollins had already dropped the author last year after initial reports of inappropriate behavior.
Walliams is known for comedy sketches on Little Britain and for writing more than 40 children’s books that sold over 60 million copies worldwide. He stepped down as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after apologizing for disrespectful comments toward contestants.
