David Walliams joked on BBC Radio 1 that he wasn’t ‘some sort of rabid animal’ a day after a fan alleges he suggested they met up for sex
David Walliams made a “rabid animal” joke on the radio the day after he allegedly suggested to a teenager that they meet up for sex. The comedian joked he wasn’t “some sort of rabid animal” during a BBC Radio 1 interview with Scott Mills. A major investigation later highlighted this moment as being just a day after he allegedly suggested a sexual meet-up with a teenage girl.
The claims come from a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, which reports accusations that the comedian, author and former Britain’s Got Talent judge exploited his celebrity status to groom and prey on teenage girls and young women.
Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, including any criminal behaviour.
The report centres partly on allegations from a woman referred to as “Alex”. She claims she first met Walliams at a fan event when she was 15 and aspiring to be a comedy writer. According to the investigation, Walliams later phoned her, and that notes from the time suggest he knew she was “15 or 16” and still at school.
By October 2005, when Alex was 17, she alleges their communication escalated. According to her account, after an email exchange they spoke on the phone that evening and Walliams suggested they meet for sex, the Guardian reported.
Walliams reportedly appeared on BBC Radio 1 the following day, when presenter Scott Mills raised his reputation as a womaniser. Mills asked whether Walliams’ friends worried about introducing their girlfriends to him.
Walliams replied: “What, I’m some sort of rabid animal?” He then added: “No, I’m a gentleman, but no, I just, I love the company of women, you see.”
Walliams has denied the allegations. In a statement, he acknowledged that “at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with”.
The investigation also reports that Walliams previously attempted to secure a High Court injunction to block publication, but lost the legal bid.
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