David Walliams named after failed bid to block allegations

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 10 Nov, 12:58 · Archive

David Walliams has been named as a celebrity who attempted to block publication of allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour, which he denies.

David Walliams, 55, attempted to block publication of his identity amid allegations of inappropriate sexual activities with girls and young women. A joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian found multiple women accusing him of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming including when they were teenagers.

Walliams brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of the Guardian, ahead of the organisations reporting the allegations. The investigation alleges he preyed on teenage girls and young women for sexual purposes.

One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams as sexual assault. Multiple women accuse him of grooming them as teenagers. He is also accused of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment at his former publisher HarperCollins and while working on Britain's Got Talent.

Respondingto the investigation, Walliams denied all allegations. He said: '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.'

He continued: '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.'

Walliams added: 'I am devastated that some of the women I met ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.'

The legal action to prevent publication of his identity did not succeed, allowing ITV News and the Guardian to name him in their reporting of the investigation.

How it is being reported

• David Walliams named after failed bid to block sexual misconduct allegationsMultiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, which he deniesSalisbury Journal · 10 Nov, 12:26
• David Walliams named as celeb trying to block sexual misconduct allegationsMultiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, which he deniesGazette & Herald · 10 Nov, 12:26
• David Walliams named as celeb trying to block sexual misconduct allegationsMultiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, which he deniesSwindon Advertiser · 10 Nov, 12:26
• David Walliams named as celeb trying to block sexual misconduct allegationsMultiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, which he deniesWiltshire Times · 10 Nov, 12:26
• David Walliams named as celeb trying to block sexual misconduct allegationsMultiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, which he deniesThis Is Wiltshire · 10 Nov, 12:26

In this story: David Walliams · ITV News · The Guardian · HarperCollins · Britain's Got Talent

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log