David Walliams named as celebrity who tried to block publication of sexual misconduct allegations
- On Tuesday, ITV News and The Guardian published a three-year joint investigation naming comedian David Walliams and detailing allegations he groomed and sexually exploited girls as young as 15, ending his anonymity after the High Court rejected his injunction bid.
- Walliams had sought a High Court injunction to block publication, arguing the allegations would be fatal due to prior suicide attempts. Justice Matthew Nicklin dismissed the bid on November 3, ruling the injunction would be an "exceptionally serious interference" with freedom of expression.
- Reporters interviewed more than 100 people, including more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts spanning allegations from 2003 onward. Walliams denied all claims, stating "I am not a sexual predator," though he acknowledged behaving "thoughtlessly" toward some individuals.
- HarperCollins dropped Walliams in December 2025 after internal investigations into harassment of junior staff. Theme park Alton Towers also permanently closed its World Of David Walliams attraction earlier this month, reflecting broader commercial fallout.
- The court ruled hospitals and staff caring for Walliams, detained under the Mental Health Act in October, "can provide significant protection," materially reducing suicide risk. Walliams did not appeal by Monday's deadline, allowing media to lift reporting restrictions and publish today.
256 Articles
256 Articles
British celebrity David Walliams accused of sexual misconduct after losing legal battle to block reporting of claims
By Issy Ronald, CNN (CNN) — British comedian and children’s author David Walliams has been named by two British news outlets as the anonymous celebrity who tried to stop media outlets publishing claims against him related to alleged grooming and sexual misconduct against some of his young fans. Walliams, who is one of the UK’s
David Walliams Accused of Sexual Harassment and Grooming
New reports detail a pattern of distressing behavior in which Walliams sought out young women who were fans and coworkers that goes back more than two decades across the U.K. television and publishing industries.
An investigation by The Guardian newspaper and ITV News has identified popular British comedian David Walliams as a sexual predator, with a preference for very young girls, including minors. According to the allegations, he pressured several female colleagues for sex over the years and engaged in grooming acts with young girls: establishing friendly conversations by taking advantage of their position – of age and status – to immediately lead the…
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