British comedian and children’s author David Walliams has been unmasked as the high-profile celebrity at the center of a sexual misconduct investigation following a failed high court bid to suppress his identity, according to The Guardian and ABC News.
The joint investigation by The Guardian UK and ITV News revealed allegations that Walliams used his fame to groom fans as young as 15 and harassed women in the workplace over a period spanning years.
Lawyers for Walliams had sought an injunction to bar media outlets from identifying him, claiming publication would lead him to take his own life. A London High Court judge rejected the bid, and his identity was revealed when an appeal was neglected.
The 55-year-old multimillionaire and Order of the British Empire recipient rose to fame on the BBC comedy sketch show Little Britain, which later spawned a spinoff titled Little Britain USA in 2008.
David Walliams has, finally, been named as the celebrity about whom sordid allegations have been circulating for decades. I delved into his downfall for @spectator https://t.co/CkTt4Hg4sM
In 2006, he was named Britain’s most inspiring public figure at the Pride of Britain Awards after completing a 21-mile swim of the English Channel. He also served as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent between 2012 and 2022, winning multiple National Television Awards for Best TV Judge.
Beyond his television work, Walliams has published more than 40 children’s books. Several of his books, including Gangsta Granny, have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage productions.
David Walliams has been revealed as the anonymous celebrity who fought to conceal his identity amid sexual misconduct allegations, with his lawyers arguing the claims going public could put him at risk of suicide. Allegations include grooming teenage girls as young as 15 and… pic.twitter.com/U0PLmZsZFS
Film and Broadcaster Reactions
Producers of the upcoming Australian children’s film Fing! confirmed that Walliams’ cameo appearance as a character called Headmaster has been cut and he will be removed from all publicity, according to ABC News and Variety. The film, based on Walliams’ 2019 book, is directed by Australian filmmaker Jeffery Walker, with a screenplay co-written by Walliams.
Screen Queensland said that the production generated more than $24 million in local expenditure and employed approximately 210 Queensland crew members while utilizing small businesses to supply goods and services.
The @itvnews investigation which David Walliams tried to stop in the courts. Watch here 👇 https://t.co/jvXQEwPPQW
Transmission Films said that its Australian publicity campaign will focus entirely on the film’s Australian production, director, and lead cast, and confirmed Walliams will not be participating. Streaming service Stan confirmed it removed the movie from its content slate, while US distributor Angel Studios stated it removed Walliams from the film and its marketing materials.
“We take the allegations reported regarding David Walliams seriously,” said Angel Studios in a statement reported by Variety. “Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected … We have removed his cameo appearance from Fing!, and he will have no involvement in the film’s release or promotion.”
In the UK and Ireland, local distributor Sky abandoned the project entirely, notifying producers of its intention to exit its position as licensee.
“The allegations made against David Walliams are extremely serious,” said a Sky spokesperson reported by Variety. “We have notified the producers of the film of our intention to exit our position as the UK & Ireland licensee of Fing!. We have already removed content which features him from our platforms.”
Many have been asking for a link to my interview with comedian Lucy Beaumont about the #Walliams allegations (which he denies). Here it is:https://t.co/dF0vrnb76i
Broadcasting and Publishing Companies Pull Walliams Programming
The BBC pulled comedy shows Little Britain and other TV shows featuring Walliams following the joint investigation. Channel 7 also removed programming from its streaming platforms.
Former staff members at the publishing house recalled that workers had been warned about inappropriate behavior roughly a decade ago, though the company waited several years before investigating. According to reports, Walliams had a sexual relationship with a junior staff member at the publishing company.
Walliams Denies Being a Sexual Predator
“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,” Walliams said in a statement reported by Radio Times.
Earlier coverage: Court Rejects David Walliams' Bid to Block Misconduct Allegations