David Walliams has been dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins, amid allegations that he allegedly harassed junior female employees at the organisation, it is claimed
Publisher HarperCollins has parted ways with David Walliams. Reports suggest the star’s contract has been terminated by the publishing house following claims of inappropriate conduct towards young women.
The former Britain’s Got Talent judge has published numerous titles with the company, including popular children’s books. However, allegations have since emerged that he “harassed” junior female staff members at HarperCollins.
A HarperCollins spokesman confirmed to the Mirror: “After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams.”
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This follows a statement to the Telegraph in which a spokesperson said: “The author is aware of this decision.”
They added: “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.”, reports the Mirror.
A representative for Walliams responded to PA: “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.”
These latest allegations follow Walliams’ departure from his Britain’s Got Talent judging role in November 2022. He had been a fixture on the programme for nearly 10 years.
However, he resigned after a transcript of remarks he made about contestants during a filming break was leaked to the public.
He had previously shared the BGT panel with Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon before his sudden exit. Bruno Tonioli, former star of Strictly Come Dancing, filled the comic’s shoes the following year.
Upon his departure, Walliams issued an apology. He clarified: “These were private conversations and like most conversations with friends were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”
His comments included derogatory terms directed at one BGT hopeful and inappropriate remarks about another during breaks in the 2020 series’ filming.
A spokesperson for Thames, BGT’s production company, stated that Walliams’ language was “inappropriate”. They further added that “those involved have been spoken to and reminded of their responsibilities and the show’s expectations as to future professional conduct.”
Walliams later filed a High Court writ against BGT makers Fremantle. He alleged that Fremantle had severely violated data protection laws by “recording, transcribing and retaining” private conversations for a decade.
In the legal documents related to the writ, he revealed that he had been battling severe, suicidal thoughts following his departure from the talent show.
In response to this, a Freemantle spokesperson told the Mirror in October 2023: “We had a long and productive relationship with David and so are surprised and saddened by this legal action.
“For our part, we remain available and open to dialogue to resolve this matter amicably. However, in the interim, we will examine the various allegations and are prepared to robustly defend ourselves if necessary.”
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