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David Walliams has been accused of inappropriate behaviour involving women who say they first encountered him as teenagers, after the comedian and author lost a High Court battle to prevent publication of the allegations.
The claims were published in a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. Walliams strongly denies grooming, sexual misconduct and any suggestion that he used his celebrity status to exploit women. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Shocking allegations against David Walliams revealed
The investigation includes accounts from several women, some of whom say they were teenagers when they first came into contact with Walliams. The women are referred to by pseudonyms, including Alex, Jade and Ella.
Alex alleges that she met Walliams at a fan event when she was 15. She had given him scripts because she hoped to become a comedy writer, and says they remained in contact for the following two years. The report says they were having sex by the time she was 17.
Jade says she first met Walliams when she was also 15, after he sent her a private message on MySpace in 2007. She alleges that they met at a café before he asked about her sexual experience. She further claims he kissed her and later made unwanted physical advances at his home.
Walliamsâ lawyers deny that he groomed Alex and deny that he had sexual contact with Jade.
Model describes unwanted advances
Another account comes from a woman identified as Ella, who says she was 19 and working as a model when Walliams contacted her unexpectedly. According to the investigation, he had asked her modelling agent for her telephone number. Lawyers for Walliams say he believed the number had been shared with her knowledge and permission.
Ella says they went to dinner with friends, after which Walliams sent her a card and flowers. She later attended a celebrity party at his home. Ella alleges that, during a tour of the property, he tried to kiss her. She says she rejected him and now describes the incident as unwanted physical touching and emotional manipulation.
Walliams acknowledged making what he called a âclumsy passâ but said he made no further approaches and did not intend to intimidate or upset her.
Why the High Court rejected the publication ban
Before the investigation was released, Walliams asked the High Court to permanently prevent The Guardian and ITN, which produces news programming for ITV, from publishing the allegations.
His legal team argued that publication could cause serious and potentially irreparable damage to his mental health. They said it was highly likely he would attempt to take his own life if the allegations became public and referred to the stateâs duty to protect life under the European Convention on Human Rights.
However, the court refused the application. Legal correspondent Dominic Casciani reported for the BBC that the judge considered Walliamsâ wellbeing risks capable of being addressed through clinical support rather than by restricting the media from reporting the claims.
The ruling did not determine whether the allegations were true. The courtâs decision concerned whether publication should be blocked, meaning Walliams retains the right to pursue possible defamation or privacy claims through the courts.
Walliams denies wrongdoing
In a statement quoted by The Guardian, Walliams said he had sometimes behaved thoughtlessly towards people with whom he had casual sexual relationships. He said he regretted not always taking their feelings properly into account.
He also said that a power imbalance was inevitable when one person was famous, but insisted that he had never abused that power. Walliams stated that he was not a sexual predator, had not broken the law and was devastated that some women he met 10 to 20 years ago now felt hurt or angry.
The controversy has prompted renewed discussion about power, celebrity influence and the responsibilities of public figures when interacting with young fans or people seeking opportunities in entertainment.
Political reaction and what happens next
Downing Street described the allegations as âdeeply troublingâ, while noting that officials had not yet reviewed the full details of the reporting at the time of the statement.
The case is now likely to remain under public scrutiny as the allegations, denials and legal arguments are examined. It is important to distinguish between reported claims and findings established by a court. Any future legal action could bring further evidence or clarification.
Frequently asked questions
What allegations have been made against David Walliams?
Several women have alleged that Walliams contacted or interacted with them when they were teenagers or young women and, in some cases, behaved inappropriately or used his celebrity status to exert influence. He denies the allegations.
Did the High Court find the allegations to be true?
No. The High Court only rejected Walliamsâ request to prevent The Guardian and ITV News from publishing the investigation. The ruling did not establish whether the allegations were accurate.
What has David Walliams said?
Walliams denies grooming and sexual predatory behaviour. He has acknowledged that he sometimes acted thoughtlessly in past relationships and described one alleged incident as a âclumsy passâ.
Why did Walliams try to block publication?
His lawyers argued that publication could seriously harm his mental health and potentially put his life at risk. The court said those concerns should be managed through appropriate clinical support rather than a media gag.
