David Walliams Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Multiple Women
British comedian and bestselling children's author David Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including some who say they were teenagers when he first contacted them. The allegations were published Tuesday by The Guardian and ITV News after Walliams lost a court bid to keep his name out of the reports.
Walliams, 55, denies the allegations. "I am not a sexual predator," he said. "I have not broken the law."
What the Women Allege
According to the joint investigation, Walliams allegedly used his fame and status over a period of years to contact young women, some considerably younger than him, and engage them in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities," RTÉ reported. The reporters said they spoke with more than 100 people, including more than 30 with firsthand accounts.
Two women who spoke to the outlets said they first met Walliams when they were 15. Both are now in their 30s and say the experience has affected them for decades.
One woman said Walliams contacted her in 2004 after they met at a "Little Britain" fan event, and that sexual contact began when she was 17. The other said that weeks after they met, he invited her to his home when she was 15 and initiated sexual contact, which she described as a "sexual assault."
Most of the women who made allegations were over 18 when they interacted with him, according to Yahoo Entertainment. A court summary noted that some of the alleged conduct could be criminal if proven.
Walliams Responds
In a statement to The Guardian and ITV News, Walliams said he had "behaved thoughtlessly" at times toward people he had casual relationships with and regrets not always considering their feelings.
He acknowledged that a power imbalance is inevitable when one person is famous. But he said that "abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did."
Walliams also said he was "devastated" that some women he met 10 to 20 years ago have expressed hurt or anger. His lawyer said he has "no intention of returning to public life."
No criminal charges have been reported, and none of the allegations have been proven.
A Failed Bid to Stay Anonymous
Before the reports were published, Walliams asked the High Court in London for an injunction to stop the outlets from identifying him. His lawyers argued that publication posed a serious risk to his mental health and safety.
Justice Matthew Nicklin rejected the request, calling it "an exceptionally serious interference" with the media companies' rights, NBC News reported. In his ruling, the judge noted that Walliams was receiving hospital care.
Lawyers for the media companies said the allegations were the result of "a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation" and that there was a strong public interest in publishing them. Walliams' identity had been protected until late Monday.
The case has drawn wide attention in Britain because it raises questions about the privacy of public figures and what the media can report in the public interest.
A Career Already in Turmoil
Walliams first rose to fame alongside Matt Lucas in the comedy series "Little Britain" and "Come Fly With Me." He went on to publish more than 40 children's books, selling more than 60 million copies, according to his website. His titles include "Gangsta Granny," which has been adapted for TV and the stage.
His career had already taken several hits before this week's reports. He stepped down as a judge on "Britain's Got Talent" in 2022 after apologizing for comments made about contestants during filming in 2020.
In December 2025, publisher HarperCollins dropped him following an investigation into allegations that he "harassed" young women, which he strongly denied. Earlier this month, the Alton Towers theme park permanently closed its World of David Walliams attraction.
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