The former Britain’s Got Talent judge was named as part of a joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian after losing an injunction bid to block the reporting of the allegations against him.
The allegations against Walliams, 55, date back to 2003 and allege that the comedian abused his power and status to contact young women to try and engage in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities.”
Walliams has denied all allegations against him.
David Walliams smiles as he arrives at Westminster Abbey, in London, on March 14, 2022, to attend the Commonwealth Day service ceremony
AFP/Getty
One woman, named by ITV and the Guardian as Jade, alleged that she was sexually assaulted and groomed by Walliams in 2007 when she was aged 15.
She told journalists at the Guardian and ITV news that what she says happened to her was “completely wrong in every way.”
Another woman, referred to as Alex, alleged she was having sex with Walliams by the time she was 17.
Walliams said he believed Alex was 18 at the time they had sex.
His lawyers say the suggestion he groomed Alex is false and has caused him significant distress.
David Walliams was a household name as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent
PA
The lauded children’s author unsuccessfully sought an injunction to block the publication of these claims because of the risk that he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.
He was granted anonymity during the proceedings, but Mr Justice Nicklin, the judge presiding over the High Court battle, rejected the injunction request, giving Walliams until Monday to file an appeal.
Prior to the publication of the allegations, Walliams was dropped by book publisher HarperCollins in December last year, after an investigation into allegations that he had “harassed” young women – a claim that Walliams strongly denied.
David Walliams outside his attraction at Alton Towers
PA
Walliams has denied all allegations in a letter addressed to journalists working on the ITV and Guardian investigation.
David Walliams’ statement in full:
David Walliams’ letter to journalists at ITV News and the Guardian
“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, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
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