David Walliams has been publicly named as the celebrity facing allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour following a High Court ruling that lifted his anonymity. The court determined that naming him was not an “exceptionally serious interference” with freedom of expression, despite his lawyers arguing he posed a suicide risk if identified. ITV News and the Guardian published the allegations shortly after the verdict.
Walliams, 55, stated he regrets not always considering others’ feelings but denied being a “sexual predator” or breaking the law. His publisher, HarperCollins, announced last December it would no longer release his books. The judge acknowledged Walliams’ mental health concerns, including two prior suicide attempts and recent inpatient psychiatric care, but ruled that clinical safeguards existed and that the women involved had a right to share their stories.
The case follows closely after Russell Brand’s sentencing for rape and sexual assault, marking a significant moment for accountability in UK entertainment. Walliams, known for *Little Britain* and as a judge on *Britain’s Got Talent*, has authored over a dozen children’s books, including *Gangsta Granny* and *The Boy in the Dress*.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing