David Walliams faces sexual misconduct allegations

British comedian and bestselling children’s author David Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour towards young women following a failed legal attempt to prevent media outlets from publishing the allegations.

Walliams was identified by British media outlets as the celebrity who sought a court injunction to block reports about claims of grooming and sexual misconduct. A High Court judge rejected his application last week, allowing the allegations to be published.

A joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, released on Tuesday, included accounts from several women who alleged that Walliams used his celebrity status to pursue sexual relationships with them when they were teenagers or young adults.

One woman alleged that Walliams contacted her through MySpace when she was 15. They later exchanged emails and arranged to meet. She claimed he kissed her, invited her to his home and initiated sexual contact before she pulled away. She described the alleged incident as sexual assault and grooming.

However, Walliams’ lawyers denied that any grooming or sexual contact had taken place.

Another woman said she first met the comedian at a fan event in January 2004, when she was also 15. She claimed she later exchanged contact details with him and that their relationship became sexual when she was 17. Although she described the relationship as consensual, she said she felt pressured.

Walliams’ legal representatives disputed her account, saying he believed she was 18 at the time of their alleged encounter.

The investigation also included claims from women who said they were over 18 when they interacted with the comedian.

Walliams denied being a sexual predator and rejected claims that he had abused his position or fame. In a statement, he acknowledged that some of his past relationships may have involved thoughtless behaviour and said he regretted not always considering other people’s feelings.

He maintained that he had not broken the law and was devastated that some women he had known over the past 10 to 20 years had expressed hurt or anger.

The allegations emerged after a lengthy legal dispute. During the proceedings, the court heard that Walliams had attempted suicide and required hospital treatment after being approached by journalists for comment in May.

The judge acknowledged that the risk to his life was serious but ruled that preventing publication would amount to an exceptionally serious restriction on the media’s freedom to report. Walliams had until Monday to appeal the decision but did not do so.

The investigation also raised allegations about his conduct in the workplace, including during his time as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent from 2012 to 2022.

Sources cited in the report alleged that he sent inappropriate messages to junior female employees and invited young female fans backstage and to his hotel room. His lawyers denied allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour.

Fremantle UK, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent, said it was disturbed and concerned by the allegations. It added that no formal complaint about Walliams’ conduct had been made to the company during his time on the programme or afterwards. It encouraged anyone with relevant concerns to come forward.

The investigation also alleged that Walliams had a sexual relationship with a much younger junior employee at his publisher, HarperCollins. His lawyers described the relationship as consensual.

HarperCollins announced in December 2025 that it would no longer publish new titles by Walliams, although it did not publicly explain the decision at the time. A subsequent report linked the move to an investigation into his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards young women.