UK children’s author David Walliams dropped by publisher after harassment claims
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David Walliams at a movie premiere in London in December 2019.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – David Walliams, a best-selling British children’s author, was dropped by HarperCollins UK on Dec 19 after the Daily Telegraph reported that the publisher had investigated claims he had harassed some of its junior female employees.
A spokesperson for Walliams, who has sold more than 60 million books translated into 55 languages, told the BBC he strongly denied behaving inappropriately and that HarperCollins had never informed him of the allegations.
The Daily Telegraph, citing sources, said that, following the publisher’s investigation, some junior staff were kept away from Walliams.
The newspaper reported that one of the women who had raised concerns about the 54-year-old had been given a five-figure pay-off by HarperCollins and left the company.
“After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision,” the publisher said in a statement to the Daily Telegraph.
HarperCollins added that it takes employee well-being “extremely seriously” and had a process in place to report and investigate concerns. It said it would not comment on internal matters to respect individuals’ privacy.
A spokesperson for Walliams told the BBC that he had not been party to any investigation or been given any opportunity to answer questions.
“David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately, and is taking legal advice,” the spokesperson is reported by the BBC as saying.
Walliams’ representatives did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
He found fame in the early 2000s on British television – alongside his creative partner Matt Lucas – with shows including the sketch comedy series Little Britain (2003 to 2006), before launching a career as a children’s author.
His bestsellers include his 2008 debut The Boy In The Dress, Billionaire Boy and Gangsta Granny.
For a decade, Walliams was also a judge on the TV talent show competition Britain’s Got Talent (2007 to present). He left in 2022 after remarks he made on the show were leaked. He later apologised for making “disrespectful comments” about contestants during filming breaks.
HarperCollins UK, the British division of the global publisher owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, appointed Ms Kate Elton as its chief executive in October after the departure of Mr Charlie Redmayne. REUTERS
