Several women have made allegations about comedian and author David Walliams in a new ITV documentary based on a joint investigation with The Guardian, including claims about interactions that took place when they were teenagers or young adults.
Walliams has strongly denied allegations of grooming, sexual assault and workplace harassment and has said he is “not a sexual predator” and has not broken the law.
David Walliams has been accused of using his fame to groom teenage girls and young women following a joint investigation by ITV and The Guardian
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The comedian and bestselling children’s author staunchly refutes all allegations of grooming, sexual assault and workplace harassment.
In a statement, he said: “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.”
Here’s a breakdown of the most shocking quotes from women in the investigation:
1. Jade: ‘It’s a whole different level of attention’
A woman identified as Jade in the documentary alleged that she was 15 when she began communicating with Walliams via MySpace, where she says her age was visible, following a comment she left on his photo.
“You get this celebrity approaching you – that’s a whole different level of attention,” said Jade. “Then you think, I must be a bit special in a way.”
She alleges that during a meeting he made unwanted sexual advances towards her, which she rejected
“That’s when I pulled away and said ‘no’,” she added. “’I wasn’t ready for sex. I didn’t want to do that.”
Alex wrote in a note to herself as a teenager: “David Walliams phoned me!!”
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Jade claims Walliams then stopped.
2. Alex: ‘I was looking for a career in comedy’
Another woman has alleged Walliams began contacting her when she was 15.
Alex, as she is named in the investigation, says she first met the then 32-year-old at a Little Britain fan event in January 2004, where she gave him scripts and a cover letter with her contact details in the hope of pursuing a career in comedy.
She claims he later phoned to praise her writing, offered to help her access performances and gave her his personal email address, despite expressing surprise at her age, allegedly asking: “Right, so you’re, what, 15, 16?”
Alex alleged that Walliams remained in contact with her over several years. She told the documentary she later felt uncomfortable about the nature of their interactions.
3. Lilly: ‘He repeatedly pursued a relationship with me’
Former model Lilly Creightmore alleged that Walliams repeatedly pursued a sexual relationship with her when she was a teenager and later a young adult.
One of the emails allegedly sent by Walliams to Alex
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She told ITV, Walliams first contacted her in 2003, when she was 18 and he was 31, after allegedly requesting her details from the production company behind Model Behaviour, a show she appeared on aged 16.
She claims Walliams sent a card to her home saying he was “enraptured” by her and wanted to take her out.
“He definitely crossed the line physically in moments when I was young.”
Walliams denies acting inappropriately towards Ms Creightmore. He described their friendship as a “special one” and has disputed her account.
4. Ella: ‘I just remember…ducking under his arm and running away’
A model identified as Ella alleged that Walliams attempted to kiss her during a party at his home in 2007.
She said the incident happened they were alone, saying: “He’s quite a big man and he leant in for a kiss.
“I just remember being like ‘eugh’ and ducking under his arm and running away.”
Ella said she felt “vulnerable” and “intimidated”, adding that she had “dodged a bullet”.
David Walliams and the judges of Britain’s Got Talent
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Walliams acknowledged making what he described as a “clumsy pass” but said no further approaches were made.
5. Former Britain’s Got Talent employee: ‘I felt uncomfortable’
A former employee described feeling uncomfortable about aspects of Walliams’ behaviour backstage.
The worker said they caught Walliams backstage wearing a towel, with two other people present.
The employee told ITV: “I think there was a general sense on the production that David did what he wanted and that there was something sexual about how he behaved that was uncomfortable.”
They recalled receiving a gift at the end of a production run, as well as having conversations about it with other ITV staff.
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