Jeremy Edwards Details Stage Incident
“It simply was abuse. I did not agree to it,” said Jeremy Edwards, describing how comedian David Walliams pulled down his trousers and exposed his genitals on stage during a 2006 charity performance, The Independent reported.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Walliams on Friday, November 13, following multiple allegations of serious sexual offenses. The inquiry coincides with Edwards coming forward to discuss the November 2006 incident at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
Edwards joined the Little Britain Live sketch thinking he was participating in a lighthearted routine for Comic Relief alongside comedian David Baddiel, according to News.com.au. During the performance, Walliams played a predatory former children’s presenter named Des Kaye.
Walliams asked to play a game called “where’s the sausage” before yanking the actor’s jeans and underwear down in front of an audience of 3,500 people. Edwards found himself knocked to the floor while off balance.
“Then he mounted me and sexually humiliated me. I was sexually humiliated. It got a massive laugh,” Edwards told The Daily Mail.
Video footage captures the unscripted exposure
The unscripted exposure was captured on video and included on the million-selling Little Britain Live DVD. Edwards stated he tried to fight off the comedian during the incident.
“I couldn’t get him off. I’m 6ft 2ins but he’s a big guy and very strong. I ended up tapping out like a wrestler,” Edwards said.
The actor explained that he remained silent for years because he initially believed the exposure of his genitals was an accidental wardrobe malfunction. His perspective changed after he viewed footage from other tour stops where Walliams pulled down the trousers and underwear of unsuspecting members of the public, including a 16-year-old in a video that resurfaced in 2020.
Walliams addressed the 2006 incident in a 2011 interview with Buzz magazine, acknowledging that the actor’s pants came down at the same time as his trousers. Walliams called it a mistake, adding that he felt bad about it afterwards, but “not that bad.”
Edwards confirmed he never received an apology from Walliams. The comedian also attempted to suppress an investigative documentary titled Power is Silence through the UK courts before allegations from an investigation by The Guardian and ITV News emerged on Tuesday, November 10.
Metropolitan Police review allegations as Walliams denies wrongdoing
The Metropolitan Police said that officers are reviewing reporting from media investigations alongside separate allegations of non-recent serious sexual offenses involving a man in his fifties. Specialist officers are currently supporting those who have come forward.
Walliams has denied all wrongdoing. “I am not a sexual predator,” Walliams said in a statement. “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.”
Questions about the Hammersmith Apollo incident
When did the stage incident with Jeremy Edwards take place?
The sketch occurred in November 2006 during a performance at the Hammersmith Apollo in London.
What charity was the Little Britain Live sketch supporting?
The performance was part of a routine associated with the UK charity Comic Relief.
How many people were in the audience during the Hammersmith Apollo performance?
Approximately 3,500 people watched the live sketch where the incident occurred.
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