‘It wasn’t long until he asked me if I’d ever had sex before’: David Walliams accused of preying on young women for sex

Key Points:

• Multiple women have accused comedian David Walliams of abusing his celebrity status to pursue sexual relationships with teenage girls and young women, with some alleging grooming and inappropriate workplace behavior, as revealed in a Guardian and ITV News investigation.
• Alex, who was 15 when Walliams first contacted her in 2004, alleges that their relationship became sexual when she was 17, describing feelings of power imbalance and trauma; Walliams denies wrongdoing and claims he believed she was 18 at the time.
• Allegations also include inappropriate conduct towards female staff and fans at Britain’s Got Talent and his publisher HarperCollins, which dropped Walliams as an author in late 2023 following an internal inquiry into his behavior.
• Walliams has publicly acknowledged sometimes thoughtless behavior in casual sexual relationships but denies being a sexual predator or breaking the law; his lawyers have denied grooming allegations and any criminal conduct.
• The revelations have led to a reassessment of Walliams’ public image, with his past work and behavior under scrutiny, while some women affected express frustration over the delayed exposure and ongoing impact of his actions.