David Walliams Accused by Women of Grooming and Sexual Misconduct

David Walliams Accused by Multiple Women of Grooming and Sexual Misconduct

Comedian and author David Walliams faces multiple allegations from women who state he used his celebrity status to target them when they were teenagers and young women, theguardian.com reported.

The claims emerged following a three-year joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian. Walliams denies any wrongdoing.

One woman, identified as Alex, stated that Walliams contacted her in January 2004 when she was 15 years old and studying for her GCSEs. Alex had met the comedian at a fan event for his sketch show Little Britain. She said their interactions eventually led to a sexual relationship when she turned 17. Walliams was 32 at the time. Alex was watching The Simpsons in her bedroom when the phone rang; his opening words were, “Hi, it’s David Walliams.

You know, off the telly!” At the fan event he had signed autographs as his character Lou while wearing a frizzy wig and told her, “You’re a very attractive lady.” He expressed surprise that she was still at school, asking, “Right, so you’re, what, 15, 16?” In emails from October 2005, he asked, “How much school have you got left?”

A second woman, identified by the pseudonym Jade, alleged that Walliams contacted her via MySpace in 2007 when she was also 15 years old. Jade stated that he invited her back to his home and kissed her. She described his actions as grooming and sexual assault. The contact began when Jade commented on a photo of Walliams on MySpace in mid-2007 with her date of birth visible on her profile.

His first private message read, “Thanks for the comment,” signed “D” with a kiss. Ten minutes later he sent another message saying, “Are you there?” Shortly after his 36th birthday in late August, they arranged to meet in Soho.

After meeting in a cafe, he kissed her and asked if she had ever had sex before, then invited her back to his home, where he lifted her shirt; she said, “I was only a 15-year-old.”

Walliams’ legal team attempted to block the publication of these allegations by filing a case at the High Court. That injunction bid was dismissed.

Allegations Extend to Britain’s Got Talent and HarperCollins

The allegations extend beyond personal relationships to professional environments, including his work on Britain’s Got Talent and with his publisher, HarperCollins.

The investigation reveals he had a sexual relationship with at least one junior employee at HarperCollins and pursued another, alongside accusations of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment at Britain’s Got Talent. The investigation found he used his position as a host on Simon Cowell’s variety show to chase women.

During the legal proceedings, the High Court heard that Walliams had been sectioned under British mental health legislation and remained in a psychiatric hospital. His lawyers argued that publishing the allegations presented severe psychiatric risks and could lead to his suicide, claiming he had twice tried to kill himself since journalists approached him in May.

Mr. Justice Nicklin rejected the attempt to suppress the reporting, ruling that medical professionals bear the responsibility for protecting his health rather than restrictions on journalism. The judge ruled on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Denials Issued Through Legal Letters and Statements

Walliams denies all allegations of criminal behavior or power abuse. In a letter to journalists working on the investigation, Walliams wrote that he realized he has at times behaved thoughtlessly towards people with whom he had casual sex.

He added in the letter, 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.

Regarding the broader claims, Walliams maintains that while a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, he never abused that power.

Legal Hurdles and Ongoing Public Scrutiny

The publication of the allegations changes the trajectory for the 55-year-old entertainer, who built a multimillion-pound career through children's literature, television sketch comedy, and a decade-long role as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. Corporate fallout has already materialized; the World of David Walliams attraction at Alton Towers was permanently closed earlier in the month.

With the legal barriers preventing publication now removed, the full scope of the joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian is public.