Summary
The Guardian and ITV News reported allegations that British author and comedian David Walliams groomed teenage fans and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl. Walliams denied targeting teenagers and denied sexual contact with one accuser; he said he had behaved thoughtlessly. A UK High Court judge blocked his attempt to stop the outlets from identifying him, and the BBC said it would review and remove some material featuring or written by him.Key Facts
- The Guardian and ITV News published a joint investigation based on accounts from multiple women.
- A woman identified as Jade alleged that Walliams contacted her when she was 15 and invited her to his home in 2007; his lawyers denied sexual contact with her.
- A woman identified as Alex said she met Walliams when she was 15 and alleged that they first engaged in sexual conduct when she was 17; his lawyers said he believed she was 18.
- The article states that UK law makes it illegal for someone over 18 to intentionally communicate with a child under 16 for a sexual purpose.
- A UK High Court judge blocked Walliams’s bid to prevent The Guardian and ITV News from identifying him in their reporting.
- The BBC said it would remove some programmes and review material featuring or written by Walliams on its platforms.
- HarperCollins dropped Walliams the previous year after accusations that he harassed young female colleagues; he denied those accusations.
- Walliams’s lawyer told the court that he had attempted suicide and was admitted to hospital for psychiatric care last month.
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