David Walliams faces a criminal investigation after London’s Metropolitan Police received non-recent allegations of serious sexual offences against the television personality in recent days, [rte.ie] reported on Thursday.
The force said that the fresh complaints are separate from previous reports published by The Guardian and ITV News. Detectives are reviewing those media reports to determine if any criminal offences occurred.
Mr Walliams denies any wrongdoing. A judge recently refused his legal bid for an injunction to block publication of his identity, ruling that suppression would interfere with freedom of expression.
Several sources alleged inappropriate behaviour towards women during his tenure as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent between 2012 and 2022. HarperCollins dropped the best-selling author last year following allegations of a sexual relationship with at least one junior employee, [Limerick Leader] reported.
Independent Talent Group subsequently dropped him as a client, the BBC began removing his programmes such as Little Britain from iPlayer, and the Labour Party suspended his membership. Independent Limerick bookshop O’Mahony’s Booksellers also removed his children’s books from its shelves, according to [Limerick Leader].
Stephen O’Mahony, director of operations at O’Mahony’s Booksellers, explained the decision to pull the titles.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations, we have made the decision to remove his books from sale for the time being,” Stephen O’Mahony told [Limerick Leader].
“We fully acknowledge that he has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing and that he strongly denies the allegations.”
In a letter sent to journalists working on the media investigation, Mr Walliams denied operating as a sexual predator.
“Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with,” Mr Walliams wrote, according to The Irish Times.
“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 is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney leads the Metropolitan Police investigation.
“We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened,” Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney said, according to [rte.ie].
“We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process.”
Questions Surrounding the Police Inquiry
Police have not confirmed the total number of alleged offences reported or the precise nature of the accusations against Mr Walliams. Investigators have not disclosed when or where the alleged incidents took place.
Mr Walliams has not responded directly to the specific reports published by The Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday.
His legal team previously argued during injunction hearings that he faced a risk of suicide following two prior attempts if his identity became public.
Judge Nicklin rejected those arguments. The publisher HarperCollins UK dropped him after allegations of a sexual relationship with at least one junior employee, [Limerick Leader] reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Case
What did the Metropolitan Police say about previous media reports?
The force stated that while the new complaints are separate from reports by The Guardian and ITV News, officers are actively reviewing that media coverage for evidence of offences.
What organizations have severed ties with Mr Walliams?
HarperCollins UK dropped him as a publisher, Independent Talent Group terminated his representation, the BBC removed his shows from iPlayer, and the Labour Party suspended his membership, according to [rte.ie].