Author Says She Was Warned in 2015 Not to Book David Walliams for Schools
Author Chloe Combi told BBC News she heard in 2015 of "real concerns" about David Walliams's behaviour around young female staff. Walliams denies allegations of sexual misconduct made in a Guardian and ITV News investigation, and says he is "not a sexual predator".
Author Chloe Combi has said she heard rumours more than a decade ago that there were "real concerns" about David Walliams's behaviour within the publishing industry. Combi, speaking to BBC News, said she was told in 2015 to warn schools that the children's author was "not an appropriate booking".
The comments follow an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News. It alleged that several women have accused Walliams of sexual misconduct, inappropriate behaviour and abusing his position. Walliams denies the allegations.
What Combi said she was told
Combi said she was invited to events such as book launches around the time one of her own books was being published. She was also running a scheme to bring "high-profile and inspiring writers and speakers" to talk in schools.
At a 2015 event, she said, she spoke to someone "quite senior" in publishing about possible writers for the project. That person gave her recommendations and a warning.
"Whatever you do, don't invite David Walliams," Combi recalled being told. She said the person added that teachers and head teachers should be informed he was not a good booking for a school.
Combi said she asked why. "One of the things she said was that there had been real concerns about his behaviour around young female staff," she said. She added that she had already heard "quite a lot of rumours" because those worlds are "quite small and contained".
Asked whether the concerns were an open secret, Combi replied: "Yes definitely." She said she had heard it from people in publishing, fellow writers and people in celebrity and TV circles. She said she never met Walliams herself.
The allegations and his response
The investigation includes several accounts. One woman alleges she met Walliams at a fan event when she was 15, that he groomed her, and that they had sex when she was 17. Another says she met him for coffee at 15 and that he later tried to lift up her shirt at his home, an act she now describes as sexual assault.
Two women who worked as models in their teens also made allegations. One accused him of grooming her, and the other said he tried to kiss her while showing her around his home.
The investigation also claimed Walliams had a sexual relationship with at least one junior employee at publisher HarperCollins and pursued another. Other women allege inappropriate behaviour at ITV's Britain's Got Talent, including inviting girls and young women to his dressing room.
Walliams told ITV News and the Guardian he was "not a sexual predator" and had not "broken the law". He said he regretted that he had "at times" behaved thoughtlessly towards people he had casual sexual relationships with.
"Abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did," he said, referring to the power imbalance that comes with fame.
Publisher's position
HarperCollins, which published his best-selling children's books, dropped Walliams last year after an investigation into his behaviour. In September it announced it would no longer publish his back catalogue.
Responding to the Guardian and ITV report, a HarperCollins spokesperson said the company had decided not to publish any new titles by Walliams. The spokesperson said it took "employee wellbeing extremely seriously".
