David Walliams named after failed High Court bid to block grooming allegations

British comedian and bestselling author David Walliams has been publicly named following a failed High Court bid to block publication of allegations that he used his fame to groom teenage girls and young women.

The disclosures followed a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian. According to the reporting, multiple women accused Walliams of leveraging his celebrity status to establish contact when they were underage. One woman, using the pseudonym 'Jade', alleged that Walliams contacted her in a Soho cafe in 2007 at age 15, and that later, at his home, he kissed her and committed an act she now describes as a sexual assault. Another woman, identified as 'Alex', stated she met Walliams at a fan event in 2004 at age 15 before engaging in consensual sexual relations at age 17. A third woman, Lilly Creightmore, waived her anonymity to tell BBC Newsnight that she “felt instantly pressured to share a bed with him” at age 18.

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Walliams strongly denied all allegations of sexual misconduct and grooming. In a letter to journalists published by The Guardian, Walliams wrote:

"I am not a sexual predator. 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."

David Walliams, via The Guardian

He added that while a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something he never did. His legal team maintained that he believed Alex was 18 at the time and denied any sexual contact with Jade.

The legal battle leading to the publication details a strenuous effort by Walliams to suppress his identity. Represented by lawyer Sara Mansoori, Walliams sought an injunction in the High Court in London to prevent ITN and Guardian News and Media from identifying him, arguing that publication would trigger self-harm and suicide. Mansoori told the court that Walliams had made suicide attempts after receiving inquiries from journalists and had received hospital care for psychiatric vulnerability.

Attorney Gavin Millar, representing the media organizations, argued that the investigation involved speaking to more than 100 people and carried an overriding public interest. Justice Matthew Nicklin rejected the injunction application, ruling that an injunction would constitute an exceptionally serious interference with media freedom. While the judge acknowledged Walliams' psychiatric vulnerability and noted that publication would substantially increase suicide risk, he concluded that suicide was not inevitable and that protective duties belonged to medical services rather than the courts. Walliams' identity protection expired late Monday after a deadline to appeal passed without legal action.

The fallout across cultural and commercial institutions has been swift. Literary agency Independent Talent Group dropped Walliams immediately, while the BBC removed Little Britain and other related programs from iPlayer pending a comprehensive review. Publisher HarperCollins dropped him after allegations were made of inappropriate behavior, and the Guardian reported that it would stop publishing his back catalogue following concerns regarding his behavior toward junior female employees. Theme park Alton Towers permanently closed its "World of David Walliams" attraction.

The Metropolitan Police in London contacted the news organizations to ensure potential victims understand how to report criminal allegations, though no formal charges have been filed.

Readers affected by these issues can seek support through organizations such as Lifeline or local crisis services.