David Walliams suffers three huge blows in wake of his sexual misconduct allegations
Walliams, 55, brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, ahead of the two organisations reporting allegations against him, including of sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity.
The star has been unmasked as he faces sexual misconduct claims(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
David Walliams has denied abusing his power as a celebrity in relationships with women but said he realised he had “behaved thoughtlessly” since he was unmasked as the man who was seeking to stop the publication of sexual misconduct allegations.
Walliams, 55, brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, ahead of the two organisations reporting allegations against him, including of sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity.
Lawyers for the media organisations previously told the High Court in London the allegations involved Walliams’ alleged “abuse of power and status” to contact young women and try to engage in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities”.
Walliams denied the claims and unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent these publications because of the risk he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.
The author was granted anonymity during the proceedings, which was lifted after his injunction bid was dismissed and GNM and ITN published their investigations on Tuesday.
He has had a shedload of bad news(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Now he has been hit with a triple whammy of bad news.
He has been dropped by his literary agency, Independent Talent Group, in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations, a spokesperson for the company said.
An Independent Talent Group (ITG) spokesperson said: “ITG is deeply disturbed by the allegations concerning David Walliams. Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected. We are no longer representing him in any capacity.”
The blow comes as it also emerged that the BBC has removed some programmes, including Little Britain, while it carries out a review of “all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms”, a spokesperson has said.
A BBC spokeswoman said that the show that gave Walliams his big break will be taken down in its entirety.
“These are serious allegations,” said the spokeswoman. “As such, the BBC is looking carefully at all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms. We are in the process of removing some programmes, including Little Britain, whilst this review is underway.”
Walliams made his name alongside fellow Little Britain star Matt Lucas(Image: Yui Mok/PA)
Labour has also suspended television personality David Walliams as a party member, it is understood, after he was named as the celebrity accused of sexual misconduct against multiple women.
Britain’s Got Talent production firm, Fremantle UK, says the company is “disturbed and concerned” by allegations made against former judge David Walliams.
Fremantle UK says “during his time on the show and in the intervening period, no complaint was ever made regarding his behaviour to Fremantle UK”, adding he hasn’t been a judge on the show for “more than four years”.
“If anyone feels they have been the subject of any impropriety or wrongdoing by anyone on any Fremantle or associated labels’ productions, we encourage them to come forward,” a spokesperson says.
“We will treat any complaints seriously. Protecting the welfare of our employees, freelancers, contributors and fans has always been and absolutely remains paramount for the company,” it adds.
