David Walliams Probed as Police Open Sex Offence Inquiry
London's Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation into allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences linked to David Walliams, 55. The comedian and children's author denies the claims. The allegations are separate from reports published earlier this week.
London's Metropolitan Police said on Friday they have opened a sex offence investigation after receiving allegations linked to British comedian and children's author David Walliams, 55. Walliams denies the allegations.
The Met said it "has received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s". Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney urged anyone affected to come forward.
"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offense to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened," he said.
Separate from this week's reports
The Met said the new allegations are separate from those reported this week by ITV News and The Guardian. Those outlets published reports on Tuesday saying several women had accused Walliams of sexual misconduct, with claims dating back as far as 2003.
They said they spoke to more than 100 people during a three-year investigation. One woman said Walliams sexually assaulted her at his London home when she was 15. Others accused him of grooming them as teenagers, and the reports included claims that he harassed young female colleagues.
Neither Walliams nor his lawyer had responded to the police investigation. He did respond earlier to the media reports.
Walliams's denial
In a letter to ITV and The Guardian, Walliams said a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous. "Abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did," he wrote.
He added: "I am not a sexual predator … I have not broken the law."
The reports were published after he lost a High Court bid to block the outlets from naming him. Judge Matthew Nicklin said an injunction would be "an exceptionally serious interference" with the media's rights.
Career fallout
A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster had taken down some shows involving Walliams, including all episodes of Little Britain, the sketch show that made him famous. His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, said it was "no longer representing him in any capacity".
His publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him last year after accusations that he harassed female staff. He also denied those claims.
Walliams also appeared in Come Fly With Me and was a judge on Britain's Got Talent. His children's books, including Mr Stink, Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress, have reportedly sold more than 50 million copies.
Wider reaction
The reports came a day after comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison for rape and sexual assault. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Thursday that the media industry "will need to look at itself" to ensure it protects women and girls who work in it.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is expected to meet entertainment industry leaders next week. She will warn that the government could intervene if they do not protect people who blow the whistle on sexual assault and misconduct.
