London’s Metropolitan Police have commenced an investigation into David Walliams regarding alleged serious sexual offenses. The BAFTA-winning comedian and bestselling author is currently in his 50s and faces scrutiny following a wave of public allegations. The Met confirmed that it has received several reports concerning non-recent serious sexual offenses. The force stated that those who have come forward are being assisted by specialist officers to navigate the process.
This police inquiry is separate from a joint report published earlier this week by ITV News and The Guardian. That report detailed accusations of sexual assault and grooming leveled by several women. Some of the accusers claim they were as young as 15 years old when the interactions with Walliams took place. The findings have dominated British media coverage throughout the week, sparking widespread discussion about the conduct of the public figure.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney addressed the public, urging potential victims to contact the police regardless of when the offenses occurred. He acknowledged that reporting such allegations can be a daunting experience. However, he emphasized that specialist officers are available to provide support, answer questions, and guide individuals through the investigation.
Walliams had previously sought a legal injunction to prevent the two news organizations from revealing his identity. His legal team argued that the comedian was highly likely to kill himself due to the pressure of trial by media. They maintained that the risk of suicide was not attributed to any wrongdoing but rather to the intensity of the media scrutiny. His lawyers also noted that Walliams had already attempted to take his own life twice.
A High Court judge rejected the injunction request, allowing the British press to publish the comedian's name. Following the release of the report, Walliams vehemently denied the core accusations. In a statement to the media, he stated that he was not a sexual predator and had not broken the law. He expressed devastation that women he met 10 to 20 years ago had expressed hurt or anger toward him.
The author admitted to behaving thoughtlessly in casual sexual relationships and regretted not always taking people's feelings into account. He clarified that while a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, he did not believe he abused that power. His representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment from The Hollywood Reporter this week.
One of the women speaking out, identified as Alex, described being contacted by Walliams when she was 15 and he was 32. They met at a Little Britain fan event and began speaking on the phone. She stated that when she turned 17, they were having sex. Other women accused Walliams of using his position to prey on them for sex. Most claimed to be over 18 during their encounters, but several sources described inappropriate behavior toward young women on the set of Britain's Got Talent and at his former publisher, HarperCollins.
HarperCollins dropped Walliams as a client last December amid initial claims of misconduct, which he denied at the time. He remains one of the country's best-selling authors, with over 50 to 60 million copies of his books sold worldwide. Titles such as Gangsta Granny, Mr. Stink, and The Boy in the Dress are among his most famous works.
In response to the news, the BBC confirmed it would remove some of its Walliams content, including episodes of Little Britain, from its streaming service iPlayer. The comedian was also dropped by his literary agent, the Independent Talent Group, and suspended by the Labour Party. These actions reflect the growing institutional response to the allegations.
Fremantle U.K., the producer of Britain's Got Talent, stated that the company is disturbed and concerned by the claims. A spokesperson noted that no formal complaint regarding Walliams' behavior had been made to the company during his time on the show or in the intervening period. The company encouraged anyone who feels they have been the subject of impropriety to come forward, emphasizing that protecting the welfare of employees and fans remains paramount.
