It may have looked like David Walliams career was bulletproof after a string of controversial comments – but now the golden author has been sacked from his publishers and here we take a look at his crumbling life
He was once the king of comedy, but now, in his biggest fall from grace so far, British author and comedian David Walliams has been let go by his publisher Harper Collins after many lucrative years.
While it may have seemed like his career has been pretty bulletproof, with several ventures under his belt that’s helped build his incredible fortune of approximately £17m, the publisher announced yesterday that they have cut ties with the 54-year-old following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, which he denies.
The former Britain’s Got Talent star had released a number of books with the agent, including successful kids stories. However, he has since faced accusations that he had “harassed” junior female employees at Harper Collins, which he has denied.
In a statement released on his behalf, a spokesperson said: “David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.”
Now, Walliams is now looking ahead to a lonely Christmas, as he admitted he won’t be spending it with his son. Just a few weeks ago, he former Little Britain star spoke about spending Christmas Day away from his 12-year-old son, Alfred, whom he co-parents with ex-wife Lara Stone.
READ MORE: David Walliams breaks silence on allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards womenREAD MORE: David Walliams dropped by publisher over claims of inappropriate behaviour towards women
‘Disrespectful comments’
Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent after he was caught making “disrespectful comments” during breaks in filming about auditioning contestants in January 2020 at the London Palladium.
Among his comments, the public heard how Walliams referred to one BGT hopeful as “a c**t” . Speaking during the breaks in filming in the 2020 series, he was also heard saying of another, “she thinks you want to f**k her, but you don’t”.
Walliams made a public apology shortly after the incident. He said: “These were private conversations and like most conversations with friends were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”
Fremantle, which produces the ITV talent show, apologised after the comments were leaked and reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams after he sued the company for misuse of private information and breaching data law after the comment were leaked.
In June it was reported that he gave Nazi salutes while recording BBC panel show Would I Lie To You? The comedian was reported to have made the gesture twice during the filming of the show’s Christmas special.
He was reported to have made the salutes while his teammate on the show, Call The Midwife’s Helen George, was telling a story about her experience on Strictly Come Dancing, in which she said she sprained her wrist from “waving too much during the Strictly tour”.
She was told by the opposing team, who she was trying to convince that her story was true, that her wave was “too little”, which is said to have led to Walliams joining in with a more vigorous wave which ended in a Nazi salute.
Walliams, whose real name is David Edward Williams, was reportedly told off for the gesture by host Rob Brydon, before then performing another salute with a sexual connotation after some light-hearted lewd jokes about George’s time on Strictly.
The Times, who first reported the story, said team captain Lee Mack looked distinctly unimpressed by the incident.
A spokesperson for Banijay UK, which owns Would I Lie To You? production company Zeppotron, said: “Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.”
Little Britain
Walliam’s comedy style has always been close-to-the bone. In 2011, Channel 4 received complaints after the comedian joked about performing a sexual act on Harry Styles, who was 17 at the time, as he said: “I’d like to suck his c—.”
He became a household name in 2003 alongside Matt Lucas with hit show Little Britain.
In 2020, Little Britain and Come Fly With Me were removed from Netflix, Britbox, Now TV and BBC iPlayer because of their use of blackface and their portrayal of black, disabled and gay people.
Both outlets said “times have changed” since it first aired, after both shows featured scenes where the comedians portrayed characters from different ethnic backgrounds. At the time, a Beeb spokesperson said: “There’s a lot of historical programming available on BBC iPlayer, which we regularly review. Times have changed since Little Britain first aired so it is not currently available on BBC iPlayer.”
In 2017, Lucas said: “If I could go back and do Little Britain again, I wouldn’t make those jokes about transvestites. I wouldn’t play black characters. Basically, I wouldn’t make that show now. It would upset people. We made a more cruel kind of comedy than I’d do now.”
Walliams he would “definitely do it differently” in today’s cultural landscape, and both of them have said they’re “very sorry” for previously using blackface make-up.
Since then, his popularity has grown. In 2006 he swam the English Channel, in 2010 he cycled the length of Britain and in 2011 he swam the length of the River Thames, all for Sport Relief, raising millions of pounds in the process. He was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to charity and the arts.
Then, in 2018, he faced criticism after hosting a charity fundraiser where female hostesses were ordered to dress high heels and mini skirts to serve an all-male crowd of leading businessmen.
The men-only Presidents Club charity auction were halted after an undercover reporter alleged that hostesses were groped and sexually harassed by attendees at an after-party.
At the time, Walliams said he was “appalled” by the allegations of abuse and withdrew his offer of a prize to be featured in his new book. The comedian said he left before the after-party and attended the event in a “strictly professional capacity” as host.
Book criticism
A story about a Chinese boy named Brian Wong was removed from David Walliams ‘ children’s book in 2021 following criticism. The book, titled The World’s Worst Children, previously had the story Brian Wong, Who Was Never, Ever Wrong.
It was re-released without the ‘harmful’ story after podcaster Georgie Ma described the book as “normalising jokes on minorities from a young age”. The Chinese character was described as “the swottiest swot who ever swotted”, who wore thick glasses and was obsessed with maths.
The World’s Worst Children – written by David and illustrated by Tony Ross – was first published in 2016, with sequels and spin-offs being released after. “In consultation with our author and illustrator [Tony Ross] we can confirm that a new story will be written to replace ‘Brian Wong’ in future editions of The World’s Worst Children,” HarperCollins Children’s said at the time. “The update will be scheduled at the next reprint as part of an ongoing commitment to regularly reviewing content.”
Explaining the issues with the book, Georgie told The Bookseller: “‘Wong’ and ‘wrong’ are two words that are commonly used in playgrounds to pick on someone if their surname is Wong.
“Even just the way Brian has been illustrated. He wears glasses, he looks like a nerd, he’s got small eyes… they’re all harmful stereotypes.”
She added: “The overall character plays on the model minority myth where Chinese people are nerdy, swotty and good at maths, we’re not confrontational and we’re high achievers. It was just really disappointing to read about that. Personally for me, because I have a toddler, I don’t want her being absorbed in these stories where Chinese culture is misrepresented.”
Now Kate Elton, the publisher’s new interim chief executive, has decided Harper Collins will no longer publish new books by Walliams. Alongside television, the publishing world appears to have now turned its back on the golden author who once quipped: “I love cruelty, it’s my favourite thing in the world.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
