For the past few weeks, rumors have been swirling about the identity of an unidentified British celebrity who launched a desperate legal bid to remain anonymous as U.K. media outlets prepared to expose decades of sexual misconduct involving teenage girls as young as 15.
After a London judge quashed that legal “hail Mary,” he is now being identified as British comedian David Walliams. To American TV viewers, Walliams is best known for the 2008 comedy series “Little Britain USA,” an HBO spinoff of U.K. series “Little Britain.”
Threats of Suicide
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Walliams’ identity remained concealed until the judge rejected an injunction.
In legal filings, the celeb’s lawyers claimed he’d made multiple suicide attempts, and was “highly likely” to take his own life if his identity were to be exposed and the sordid revelations made public in a “trial by media.”
While the case wound through the courts, U.K. news outlets were warned against publishing anything that would identify Walliams, a British TV staple due to his 10-year stint as a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent.” He’s also a bestselling children’s author, selling more than 50 million copies of books including “Gangsta Granny,” “Mr. Stink” and “The Boy in the Dress.”
Now that his attempt to block the stories has failed, on Tuesday, November 10, The Guardian and ITV News released its report, “David Walliams: Power and Silence.”
Based on a three-year joint investigation by the news outlets, the bombshell reporting accuses Walliams of sexual misconduct with “a large number of girls and young women.” One alleged victim described a sexual encounter with Walliams when she was 15 years old, describing that encounter as a “sexual assault.” The report also includes the claims of multiple women who accused Walliams of “grooming” them when they were underage.
Cutting Ties with Walliams
As MediaWeek reported last week, a big clue emerged that Walliams was the celebrity at the center of the scandal when British theme park Alton Towers announced its decision to “permanently close” its attraction “The World of David Walliams.” No reason was given.
That followed news in September that Walliams was dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins, also without explanation.
“The Guardian and ITV News can now reveal that the publisher severed ties with the star author after concerns were raised about his behavior over several years, including an allegation that he had inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior female employee and pursued another,” noted the Guardian’s report.
In addition, Walliams has been dropped by Independent Talent Group, the agency that had represented him for decades.
A Denial of Shocking Allegations
Walliams responded in a letter, vehemently denying the allegations.
“Looking back, I realize that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with,” Walliams wrote.
“I realize I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst 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 added.
“I am not a sexual predator,” Walliams insisted. “I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
British Mystery Celeb Revealed After Failed Legal Bid to Hide Identity Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations