David Walliams named after court rejects sexual misconduct injunction

Summarised from 8 outlets · 11 reports · Updated 10 Nov, 12:20 · Archive

David Walliams has been identified as the celebrity at the centre of sexual misconduct allegations after failing to block their publication.

David Walliams, 55, has been identified as the celebrity who sought to prevent The Guardian and ITV News from publishing sexual misconduct allegations against him. A High Court judge dismissed his injunction bid on 3 November, and Walliams did not appeal by the 4:30pm deadline on Monday, clearing the way for the outlets to name him on Tuesday.

The joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News involved more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts. The outlets allege that Walliams abused his power and status to contact young women and teenagers for inappropriate sexual activities, including potential criminal conduct. The allegations span approximately two decades.

Multiple women have accused Walliams of grooming. Two women said they first met him when they were 15 years old. One woman recalled Walliams calling her after she attended a Little Britain fan event in January 2004, when she was 15 and studying for her GCSEs. She noted in her contemporaneous account that he had remarked 'You're a very attractive lady' when they first met. Another woman alleges contact began via MySpace in 2007 when she was 15. Both women, now in their 30s, said the experiences affected them for nearly two decades.

Allegations also concern Walliams' conduct while serving as a judge on Britain's Got Talent for ten years, and at his former publisher HarperCollins, where he is said to have had a sexual relationship with a junior member of staff. The Daily Mail reports that HarperCollins dropped Walliams 11 months ago amid accusations of harassment of female junior employees.

Walliams denies all allegations. In a letter to journalists, he wrote: '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 added: '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.'

Walliams' legal team told the High Court he had attempted suicide twice after the outlets first put the allegations to him in May. They argued that publication would be 'highly likely' to lead to a further suicide attempt, claiming he suffered from 'very severe mental health problems' rooted in childhood trauma and feared trial by media. Justice Nicklin ruled that 'the evidence does not establish that suicide is an inevitable consequence of publication or that psychiatric treatment and containment are incapable of providing substantial protection'. He said an injunction would constitute an exceptionally serious interference with media freedom and the right of alleged victims to communicate their experiences.

How it is being reported

• The allegations against David Walliams | Investigation by the Guardian and ITV NewsMultiple women allege David Walliams abused his power and position as a celebrity to prey on them for sexual purposes when they were young women, an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News has found. He denies the allegations. In a letter addressed to journalists working on this investigation, Walliams writes: "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…The Guardian · 10 Nov, 12:18
• David Walliams named as ‘famous man’ accused of sexual misconductHe denies the allegations.Metro · 10 Nov, 12:16
• Comedian David Walliams is named as anonymous celebrity in sexual misconduct allegations after failed attempt to conceal his identityThe celebrity has already attempted to take his own life twice.New York Post · 10 Nov, 12:10
• David Walliams is named as celebrity who tried to block reporting of sex abuse claims against himThe TV star and author is accused of 'abusing his status' to conduct 'inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities' with 'a large number' of women and girls.Daily Mail · 10 Nov, 12:10
• David Walliams revealed as celebrity accused of sexual misconduct after losing anonymity fightAward-winning author and comedian faces sex allegations in Guardian and ITV News investigationEvening Standard · 10 Nov, 12:08
• David Walliams revealed as famous man at centre of sexual misconduct allegationsLawyers for the comedian and acclaimed children’s author had sought an injunction to prevent publication of allegationsThe Independent · 10 Nov, 12:07
• David Walliams accused of ‘sexually exploiting young women’ after injunction failsThe TV star denies accusations he abused his 'power and status' to exploit teenage girls and young women for sexual purposesThe i Paper · 10 Nov, 12:06
• David Walliams Named As Celebrity At The Centre Of Misconduct AllegationsDavid Walliams pictured in April 2015 David Walliams has been named as the public figure at the centre of numerous allegations of sexual misconduct. Last month, it was reported that a “well-known individual” – referred to in court simply as PPT – had been seeking a legal injunction to prevent The Guardian and the news production company ITN from publishing allegations about him. These accusations included what The Guardian described as “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with girls and young women”. PPT’s legal team had previously denied that he ever used “his power and…HuffPost UK · 10 Nov, 12:06
• ‘It wasn’t long until he asked me if I’d ever had sex before’: David Walliams accused of preying on young women for sexComedian and former Britain’s Got Talent judge alleged to have groomed fans he met when they were as young as 15 and harassed women in the workplace over a number of years. He denies the allegations Continue reading...The Guardian · 10 Nov, 12:00
• What are the key legal issues surrounding the David Walliams case?Effort to stop Guardian and ITN from publishing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour was unprecedented Revealed: David Walliams accused of using celebrity status to prey on young women for sex Read the full investigation: ‘It wasn’t long until he asked me if I’d ever had sex before’ The high court attempt by David Walliams to stop the Guardian and ITN from publishing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour was unprecedented. Here are the key issues surrounding the case. Support for anyone affected by sexual abuse issues is available in the UK from Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222…The Guardian · 10 Nov, 12:00
• Revealed: David Walliams accused of using celebrity status to prey on young women for sexGuardian reports accusations after court rejects legal attempt to prevent publication. Walliams denies any wrongdoing Read the full investigation: ‘It wasn’t long until he asked me if I’d ever had sex before’ Explainer: the key legal issues surrounding the case David Walliams, one of Britain’s best-known television personalities and top-selling children’s authors, has been accused by multiple women of using his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex. The allegations include accounts from two women who said they first met the star when they were 15 years old.…The Guardian · 10 Nov, 12:00

In this story: David Walliams · The Guardian · ITV News · Britain's Got Talent · HarperCollins · Justice Nicklin · Little Britain · High Court

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