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UK children's author David Walliams accused of sex assault, grooming teens

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV detailed accusations spanning from 2003, including harassment of young colleagues and the grooming of teenage fans. One specific account alleges the comedian invited a 15-year-old girl to his residence in 2007 and sexually assaulted her. In response to the publication, broadcast networks, talent representatives, and political organizations have rapidly pulled his content and dropped their affiliations. The 55-year-old maintains that he never engaged in illegal activity or targeted teenagers.

Key points

  • The entertainer unsuccessfully attempted to use a High Court injunction to block media ou…: The entertainer unsuccessfully attempted to use a High Court injunction to block media outlets from identifying him.
  • Walliams denied all allegations of illegal acts, grooming, and targeting teenagers, thoug…: Walliams denied all allegations of illegal acts, grooming, and targeting teenagers, though he acknowledged behaving thoughtlessly in past relationships.
  • The accusations compound earlier fallout from last year, when publisher HarperCollins dro…: The accusations compound earlier fallout from last year, when publisher HarperCollins dropped him over separate workplace harassment claims.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The comedian and author denies the allegations, but in a letter published by the Guardian acknowledged that "at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with".

LONDON: UK media on Tuesday (Nov 10) published allegations that British comedian and children's author David Walliams groomed teenage fans and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl as well as harassing young female colleagues.

The claims, published by The Guardian newspaper and ITV news channel, came after a joint investigation into allegations by multiple women dating as far back as 2003.

Walliams, who lost a High Court battle against being identified in the UK media and did not appeal, denied targeting teenagers and using his fame to manipulate them to have sex, his lawyers told media.

His lawyers did not respond to a request for comment from AFP.

The Guardian published a letter Tuesday from Walliams, saying he "behaved thoughtlessly" in casual relationships.

But he said: "I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law".

Now 55, Walliams starred in the BBC's Little Britain sketch show in…

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