Multiple women have accused David Walliams, a prominent British television personality and author, of exploiting his fame to pursue young women and teenagers for sexual encounters. Some accusers stated they first met Walliams when they were 15 years old, and described feeling groomed, with lasting effects for nearly two decades.
The allegations, which span many years, include claims of Walliams abusing his position through the television show Britain’s Got Talent and at his former publisher, HarperCollins. These accusations were part of a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, which gathered accounts from 30 individuals.
A court recently rejected Walliams’ legal efforts to prevent the publication of these allegations. His lawyers had argued that the potential publication posed a grave risk to his life, citing two previous suicide attempts after the allegations were first presented to him. Walliams denies any wrongdoing, stating he never abused his power, though he acknowledged behaving thoughtlessly in past relationships.
The high court judge acknowledged the significant risk of suicide but ruled that the investigation concerned matters of substantial public interest. The judge stated that the state was already taking measures to protect Walliams through inpatient psychiatric treatment, and that preventing publication would be a serious interference with press freedom.
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Source: theguardian.com
