British comedian David Walliams faces allegations of grooming, sexual misconduct and inappropriate workplace behaviour following a court ruling allowing media reports to be published.
British comedian and bestselling children’s author David Walliams is facing allegations of grooming, sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour towards young women after a High Court judge rejected his attempt to prevent media outlets from publishing reports about the claims.
Walliams was identified by British media organisations as the celebrity who sought a court injunction to block publication of the allegations. The legal application was rejected last week, allowing the media to report on claims that had emerged during a lengthy legal dispute.
A joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, published Tuesday, included accounts from several women who alleged that Walliams used his celebrity status to pursue relationships with them when they were teenagers or young adults.
One woman alleged that Walliams contacted her through MySpace when she was 15. They subsequently exchanged emails and arranged to meet. She claimed he kissed her, invited her to his home and initiated sexual contact before she pulled away. She described the alleged encounter as sexual assault and grooming.
However, Walliams’ lawyers denied that any grooming or sexual contact had taken place.
Another woman said she first met the comedian at a fan event in January 2004, when she was also 15. She alleged that they exchanged contact details and that their relationship became sexual when she was 17. Although she described the relationship as consensual, she said she felt pressured.
Walliams’ legal representatives disputed her account, maintaining that he believed she was 18 at the time of their alleged encounter. The investigation also included accounts from women who said they were over 18 when they interacted with him.
Walliams rejected the description of himself as a sexual predator and denied abusing his position or fame. In a statement, he acknowledged that some of his past relationships may have involved thoughtless behaviour and said he regretted not always considering other people’s feelings.
He maintained that he had broken no laws and said he was devastated that some women he had known over the previous 10 to 20 years had expressed hurt or anger.
During the court proceedings, it emerged that Walliams had attempted suicide and required hospital treatment after journalists approached him for comment in May. The judge acknowledged the serious risk to his life but ruled that preventing publication would represent an exceptionally serious restriction on media freedom. Walliams had until Monday to appeal the decision but did not do so.
The investigation also raised allegations concerning his workplace conduct during his time as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, a position he held from 2012 to 2022.
Sources cited in the investigation alleged that he sent inappropriate messages to junior female employees and invited young female fans backstage and to his hotel room. His lawyers denied allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour.
Fremantle UK, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent, said it was disturbed and concerned by the allegations. It added that no formal complaint about Walliams’ conduct had been made during his time on the programme or afterwards and encouraged anyone with relevant concerns to come forward.
The investigation further alleged that Walliams had a sexual relationship with a much younger junior employee at his publisher, HarperCollins. His lawyers described the relationship as consensual.
HarperCollins announced in December 2025 that it would no longer publish new titles by Walliams, without publicly explaining the decision at the time. A subsequent report linked the move to an investigation into his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
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