David Walliams Named After Failed Injunction
Comedian and children’s author David Walliams has been unmasked as the British celebrity who tried to block an exposé on sexual misconduct allegations involving teenage girls and young women, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
The high-profile legal bid collapsed last week when the London High Court rejected an injunction sought by Walliams, and the comedian declined to lodge an appeal before the deadline. Following that failure, outlets including The Guardian and ITV News published the results of a joint three-year investigation on Tuesday.
Did you know?
Walliams has sold over 50 to 60 million copies of his children’s books worldwide, with titles such as Gangsta Granny, Mr. Stink and The Boy in the Dress, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Walliams Seeks Injunction Citing Suicide Risk
Walliams had asked the court to stop ITN and Guardian News and Media from publishing his identity because he claimed it was “highly likely” he would kill himself, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety. His lawyers maintained that the suicide risk stemmed from a feared “trial by media” rather than any actual wrongdoing.
Walliams then missed the Monday appeal deadline, clearing the way for the publication of the joint investigation titled “David Walliams: Power and Silence.”
Grooming and Assault Allegations From Fans
The Guardian investigation details accounts from multiple women who accuse Walliams of using his celebrity status to groom them when they were teenagers. One woman, identified as Alex, told the outlet that Walliams contacted her in January 2004 when she was 15 and he was 32, after they met at a fan event for Little Britain.
“Hi, it’s David Walliams,” she recalled him saying over the phone, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “You know, off the telly!” Alex said they spoke by phone and exchanged emails over the next two years before they had sex when she turned 17. Another woman, Jade, told The Guardian that Walliams asked her if she had ever had sex when she was 15 years old.
Denials and Public Statements From Walliams
Walliams has strongly denied all allegations of criminality and predatory behavior. “I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law,” he told the investigating news outlets, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In a public statement released Tuesday morning, Walliams addressed his past conduct. “Looking back, I realize that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with,” he wrote, as reported by Page Six. He added that while a power imbalance is inevitable with fame, “abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something I never did.”
Workplace Harassment and Fallout at HarperCollins
The allegations extend beyond fan interactions into Walliams’ professional life. Several sources described inappropriate behavior toward women on the set of Britain’s Got Talent and at his longtime publisher, HarperCollins, according to The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.
A December 2025 report in The Daily Telegraph previously accused Walliams of harassing junior female employees at HarperCollins, where former staff were reportedly told to work in pairs when meeting him. Variety noted that HarperCollins ended its publishing contract with Walliams in 2025 following an internal investigation, and later stated they would no longer sell or reprint his back catalog.
Merlin Entertainments Closes Themed Attraction at Alton Towers
Merlin Entertainments announced that it is permanently closing “The World of David Walliams,” a themed attraction at Alton Towers Resort, following regular reviews of rides and attractions across the resort.
TMZ reported recently that Walliams was dropped from an upcoming film, The Road to Nevermore, though it remains unclear if that decision is linked to the Guardian and ITV investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Investigation
What did David Walliams say in response to the allegations?
Walliams denied being a sexual predator or breaking the law. He issued a statement admitting he behaved thoughtlessly in past casual relationships but denied ever abusing his celebrity power, according to Page Six.
Which news organizations conducted the investigation?
The three-year joint investigation titled “David Walliams: Power and Silence” was carried out and published by The Guardian and ITV News after a high court judge rejected Walliams’s injunction bid, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
How old were the accusers when they first met Walliams?
The Guardian investigation includes accounts from women who state they were contacted by Walliams when they were teenagers, with at least two women alleging they were 15 years old when they first crossed paths with the comedian, according to Page Six and The Hollywood Reporter.
What publishing and professional fallout has Walliams faced?
HarperCollins dropped Walliams from its roster in 2025 following internal investigations into alleged workplace harassment, and Alton Towers permanently closed its World of David Walliams attraction, as detailed by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety.