David Walliams has been removed from a major children's book festival organised by Waterstones, following serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour. The comedian and best-selling author was due to appear at the event in Dundee next month.
Publisher and Retailer Cut Ties
The decision by the bookselling chain comes swiftly after his long-time publisher, HarperCollins, dropped the 54-year-old author on Friday. The publisher's move followed claims about his conduct towards young women, including an allegation that he harassed a female employee. That staff member later left the company with a five-figure settlement.
Walliams was reportedly not informed of these specific allegations at the time. A spokesman for the author stated he strongly denies behaving inappropriately and is seeking legal advice, noting he was not party to any investigation by HarperCollins.
Event Cancellation and Wider Fallout
Walliams had been scheduled to host an hour-long talk and Q&A on February 7 as part of Waterstones' annual children's festival, billed as a family event. Over the weekend, customers encountered error messages when trying to book tickets online, before the retailer confirmed his participation was cancelled.
A Waterstones spokesman said: 'HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing at our festival in Dundee.' His name has been scrubbed from the festival's speaker list.
The fallout extends beyond the festival. The BBC confirmed it has severed ties with Walliams regarding future projects, though pre-recorded shows and adaptations of his books like 'Mr Stink' are still being broadcast. Several independent bookshops have also reportedly removed his titles from display.
A Career Under Scrutiny
This controversy marks a significant downturn for one of the UK's most commercially successful children's authors. Having sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, with hits like 'Gangsta Granny', Walliams accounted for a huge portion of HarperCollins's children's sales. Despite being awarded an OBE in 2017, his career has been marred by previous scandals, including a 2022 apology for derogatory comments made on Britain's Got Talent.
Industry insiders have described his alleged behaviour as one of the sector's 'biggest open secrets'. With his publisher, a major retailer, and the BBC all stepping back, the future for the once-untouchable children's author appears increasingly uncertain.
