London’s Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into a series of alleged “serious” sex offences involving television personality David Walliams, RTÉ reported.
The force stated it has received a number of non-recent allegations against the former Britain’s Got Talent judge “in recent days,” according to the Met. These complaints are reportedly separate from the allegations previously detailed by ITV News and The Guardian, though officers are reviewing those earlier reports to determine if they contain evidence of criminal offences.
The investigation follows a high-profile legal battle in which Walliams unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent the media from revealing his identity. During those proceedings, his lawyers argued there was a risk he would take his own life following two previous suicide attempts. However, Judge Nicklin refused the bid, ruling that granting an injunction would constitute an “exceptionally serious interference” with freedom of expression.
“We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened,” said Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who is leading the investigation team. He added that specialist officers are available to provide support and guidance to those reporting such allegations.
Allegations of power imbalance and misconduct
The scrutiny surrounding the 55-year-old entertainer has intensified following investigative work by The Guardian, which detailed accounts of alleged grooming and sexual misconduct. One woman, referred to as Alex, told The Guardian that Walliams contacted her in January 2004 when she was 15 years old. The Guardian reported that Walliams, then 32, had sent her a postcard with a heart drawn on it and exchanged emails with her during that period.
Another woman, identified as Jade, told The Guardian that she was 15 in 2007 when Walliams contacted her via MySpace. According to The Daily Mail, Jade alleged that Walliams took her down an alleyway in Soho after meeting her for coffee. Lawyers for Walliams have denied that he engaged in grooming and stated he did not have any sexual contact with Jade, according to The Guardian.
Walliams has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In a letter sent to journalists several months ago, he denied being a “sexual predator” but acknowledged that he had “behaved thoughtlessly” at times and regretted not taking people’s feelings “properly into account.” He maintained that he had not broken the law, according to The Daily Mail.
Publishers and broadcasters sever ties with Walliams
The allegations have triggered a rapid dismantling of Walliams’ commercial and professional standing. His publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him last year, and his literary agency, The Independent Talent Group, has also severed ties.
The BBC has begun removing his programmes, such as Little Britain, from its iPlayer streaming service. Additionally, Sky has announced its intention to exit its position as the UK and Ireland licensee for the film Fing!, which was based on one of his books, according to The Independent.
The situation has also prompted political scrutiny regarding the culture of the UK media industry. The Independent reported that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has summoned senior members of the media and entertainment sectors to meet next week.
Nandy is expected to address what she described as “abuses of power” in the industry and may push for mandatory participation in an industry body to protect whistleblowers if significant changes are not implemented by media executives.
The fallout reflects a broader tension within the entertainment business between the management of high-value intellectual property and the necessity of rigorous safeguarding. As major broadcasters and publishers distance themselves from Walliams to protect their brand equity, the industry faces increasing pressure to address the structural power imbalances that allow such allegations to persist.
The Metropolitan Police have not yet confirmed the total number of reported offences or the specific nature of the new allegations, nor have they confirmed when or where the alleged incidents took place.
Disclaimer: The cultural analyses and financial data presented in this article are based on available public records and industry metrics at the time of publication.
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