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David Walliams Removed from Film Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
· Confirmed
In Short: Children's author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from the upcoming film 'Fing!' following sexual misconduct allegations.
David Walliams (6745348487).
David Walliams faces sexual misconduct allegations as Russell Brand is jailed. Associated Press
Children's author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from the upcoming film 'Fing!' following sexual misconduct allegations.
The allegations, detailed in reports by ITV News and The Guardian, include claims of grooming and sexual assault involving women as young as 15.
Another woman, who was 15 at the time, said Walliams attempted to lift her shirt and commit a sexual act during a visit to his home.
Walliams, 55, denied the claims, stating, '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.'
The Metropolitan Police said it has contacted ITV News and The Guardian to ensure potential victims are aware of how to report criminal allegations.
In response to the allegations, Walliams' former publisher HarperCollins and talent agency ITG have severed ties with him.
The film's producers have removed Walliams' cameo appearance and he will not participate in the Australian publicity campaign.
Transmission Films stated, 'The film’s producers have advised that they have removed Walliams’ cameo appearance from Fing!,' adding, 'Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected.'
The BBC and Sky have also removed Walliams' content from their platforms, including the popular comedy series 'Little Britain.'
What this adds
The allegations have led to Walliams being removed from multiple projects and platforms, including his role in 'Fing!' and his presence on 'Little Britain' on BBC iPlayer and Sky platforms.
Walliams sought an injunction to prevent the broadcast and publication of these allegations, citing a risk of suicide following two previous suicide attempts.
The investigation involved more than 100 people, including over 30 sources with first-hand accounts and Walliams' friends and colleagues.
Background
Children's author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from an upcoming film and its publicity tour following sexual harassment allegations.
Walliams sought an injunction to prevent the broadcast and publication of these allegations, citing a risk of suicide following two previous suicide attempts.
What's confirmed
- One now characterises her alleged encounter with Walliams at 15 years old as a "sexual assault".
- David Walliams is set to be removed from the upcoming movie, Fing, which is based on his own 2019 children’s book.
- “The film’s producers have advised that they have removed Walliams’ cameo appearance from Fing!” The decision comes after a joint investigation by the Guardian UK and ITV News revealed sexual harassment allegations, including allegations that Walliams groomed fans he met when they were as young as 15, and allegations he harassed women in the workplace over a number of years.
- Multiple women have accused David Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming including when they were teenagers.
- Gavin Millar KC said that reporters from the media organisations had spoken to more than 100 people, including more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts as well as Walliams’ friends and colleagues.
- Walliams, 55, brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, ahead of the two organisations reporting allegations against him, including of sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity.
- Sara Mansoori KC, representing Walliams, told the court that any publication relating to him about these allegations “would have a potentially fatal impact”.
- Lawyers for the media organisations previously told the High Court in London the allegations involved Walliams’ alleged “abuse of power and status” to contact young women and try to engage in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities”.
- Walliams denied the claims and unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent these publications because of the risk he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.
- Walliams is also accused of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment at his former publisher HarperCollins, and while working on Britain’s Got Talent.
What's still developing
- Walliams (right, with Matt Lucas, in 2006) shot to fame on the BBC comedy sketch series Little Britain One of the women who alleged Walliams "groomed" her as a teenager told BBC Newsnight she was "angry" at his behaviour. Lilly Creightmore - who Walliams contacted when she was 18 - waived her right to anonymity. Creightmore told Newsnight that a month after they first met, Walliams told her she "could move in with him and basically that I could be his flatmate". She said that after she arrived to stay at his house she "felt instantly pressured to share a bed with him".
- She says he groomed her and they had sex when she was 17 Another woman alleges she met Walliams for a coffee when she was 15, before going back to his house where he allegedly tried to lift up her shirt and commit an act that she now describes as a sexual assault A woman who worked as a model in her teens accused Walliams of grooming her.
- Walliams is accused of sexual misconduct and harassment dating back to the early 2000s, when he was in his 30s, and some of the women who have made allegations against him were as young as 15 years old when contact with him allegedly began.
- In light of the allegations, the forthcoming adaptation of Fing, which stars Taika Waititi, Mia Wasikowska and Iona Bell, has now been thrown into jeopardy.
- Transmission Films has confirmed that Walliams, a co-writer of the children’s fantasy film Fing!, will no longer appear in the movie or take part in its media campaign before its 14 January cinema debut.
- Sources with knowledge of Walliams’ behaviour towards young women included young models and fans, aged between 17 and 22 at the time, who said he messaged them unsolicited on social media.
- However, Nicklin said the investigation “concerns matters of substantial public interest” and found that the court did not have an obligation to protect Walliams from acts of self-harm.
- Walliams rose to prominence for his comedy show “Little Britain” before becoming a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent.” He was dropped in 2022 after audio was leaked in which he made derogatory comments about some of the contestants.
- One alleged victim, who claims Walliams drove her to his house when she was 15 where he attempted to engage in sexual behavior, said she now regards the interaction as sexual assault.
- One allegation, made by a woman using the pseudonym of Jade, told the investigation that the comedian made contact with her via MySpace in the summer of 2007, when she was also 15 years old.
- In another case, an 16-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh underwent a forensic examination after being found pregnant during a sexual assault investigation.
Sources
- Far Out Magazinelink
- Hampshirechroniclelink
- Lancashiretelegraphlink
- The Guardianlink
- Varietylink
- Warpbeatlink
- Irishexaminerlink
- WarpBeat — background on David Walliams Loses Injunction Bid Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations link
- Associated Press — video link
- Associated Press — video link
- The Independent — video link
- Associated Press — video link
- ABC News (Australia) — video link
- TalkTV — video link