Comedian and former Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams has been removed as an ambassador for The Children's Trust, marking another significant blow to his public standing. This decision follows his recent dismissal by his long-time publisher, HarperCollins, over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff, which the 54-year-old entertainer strongly denies.
Charity Severs Ties Following Ambassador Review
A spokesperson for the charity, which supports children with brain injury and neurodisability, confirmed the split. "After a review of our ambassador programme earlier in the year, David Walliams is no longer an ambassador of The Children’s Trust," they stated. Walliams had been a celebrity supporter of the organisation since January 2018 and was awarded an OBE for his services to charity and the arts in 2007.
The charity's move comes in the wake of serious allegations reported against Walliams. He is accused of harassing employees at HarperCollins, with one woman reportedly leaving the company with a five-figure settlement after raising concerns. Walliams has stated he was not informed of these allegations at the time and denies any wrongdoing.
Walliams' Fears Over 'Bad Taste' Messages Surface
In a revealing twist, a leaked recording from February shows Walliams expressing anxiety about his private communications being made public. Speaking at a cybersecurity event, he said, "Imagine if all my WhatsApp messages came out… there’s bad taste jokes with friends, other comedians. Very bad taste comments and jokes all the time."
He elaborated on his worries, telling the audience he often exchanges "very bad taste jokes" with other high-profile comedians and friends. "You may notice the kind of things you share with each other are often in quite poor taste and I can’t imagine it isn’t just me, right?" he said. These concerns were voiced just months before HarperCollins terminated its relationship with him.
Widespread Career Fallout Continues
The repercussions for Walliams' career are spreading rapidly across multiple sectors:
- Publishing: HarperCollins dropped the author, a major blow given his success as a children's writer.
- Retail: Waterstones confirmed he will no longer appear at its annual children's festival in Dundee in February, citing the publisher's decision.
- Broadcasting: The BBC has severed ties, confirming there are "no future projects directly involving him," though adaptations of his books were recently broadcast.
This series of events represents a stark downward spiral for the comedian, who was a household name for over a decade on one of ITV's most popular shows. The loss of his charity ambassadorship, a role he held for years, underscores the profound impact the allegations are having on his reputation and professional life.
