David Walliams denies allegations of grooming and sexual assault

British comedian and children’s author David Walliams has denied allegations of sexual misconduct reported by ITV News and The Guardian after a joint investigation featuring accounts from several women. One woman alleged that Walliams sexually assaulted her at his London home when she was 15. Other women accused him of grooming them as teenagers. Walliams, 55, has denied the claims, and the allegations have not been established as fact. The outlets said their reporting was delayed by a legal challenge. Walliams had sought an injunction to prevent them from naming him, arguing that publication could lead him to take his own life. A judge rejected his request last week, and the protection of his identity expired on Monday night. In a letter to the news organisations, Walliams said: “I am not a sexual predator.” He said he had not broken the law and was devastated that women he had met 10 to 20 years earlier had expressed hurt or anger. He also acknowledged that fame creates an imbalance of power, while insisting he had not abused it. The allegations are already affecting his work. Producers of the forthcoming film Fing!, adapted from one of his books, said they had removed his cameo and that he would have no part in the film’s release or promotion. UK distributor Sky told Variety it was dropping the movie; the US distributor had not responded to an inquiry, according to the report. Publisher HarperCollins dropped Walliams last year after allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The Guardian reported that concerns had existed for years, including an allegation involving a junior female employee. Walliams also left his judging role on Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after apologising for remarks made about contestants.