Children's author and television star David Walliams has been dropped by his long-time publisher, HarperCollins, following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he strongly denies.
Publisher Severs Ties Following Investigation
HarperCollins UK confirmed it will not publish any new titles by the award-winning writer. The decision, made under the leadership of its new CEO, came after what the company described as "careful consideration." The publisher stated that Walliams, 54, is aware of their decision.
The move follows a reported investigation by the publisher into claims that Walliams had harassed young women. However, a spokesperson for the comedian and actor has stated that Walliams was never informed of any specific allegations by HarperCollins, was not part of any investigation, and was given no opportunity to respond to questions.
Walliams's Vehement Denial and Legal Action
In a statement issued to the Press Association, Walliams's representative said: "David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice." The spokesperson emphasised the lack of communication from the publisher regarding the process.
HarperCollins, in its statement, underscored its commitment to employee welfare, saying: "HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns. To respect the privacy of individuals we do not comment on internal matters."
A Career Under Scrutiny
Walliams, whose real name is David Edward Williams, is one of the UK's most successful children's authors. His popular books include The Boy In The Dress, Fing, and Gangsta Granny, the latter adapted for television by the BBC.
His television career, however, has faced recent controversies. He left his role as a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2022 after apologising for making "disrespectful comments" about auditioning contestants during filming breaks in January 2020. The show's producer, Fremantle, later apologised and reached an "amicable resolution" with Walliams in 2023 after he sued for misuse of private information following a leak of his remarks.
Earlier this year, further reports emerged alleging Walliams made Nazi salutes while recording the BBC panel show Would I Lie To You?.
Walliams was appointed an OBE in 2017 for services to the arts and charity, having raised millions for causes like Sport Relief.
