Troubled author and comedian David Walliams has been removed from the upcoming Waterstones Children’s Book Festival lineup as well as being dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins. The decision follows allegations of harassment against young women, which Walliams strongly denies.
Waterstones confirmed that Walliams will no longer be participating in their festival in Dundee. The TV star, known for his roles in comedy shows like Come Fly With Me and Little Britain, is also a successful children’s author with over 60 million book sales worldwide.
HarperCollins announced they would not release any new titles from Walliams after careful consideration, citing concerns for employee well-being. Walliams, in response, denied any wrongdoing and stated that he was not made aware of the allegations against him or given a chance to address them.
In a separate incident, Walliams apologized for disrespectful comments made during his time as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, leading to his departure from the show in 2022. The production company, Fremantle, later apologized and reached a resolution with Walliams after leaked remarks caused controversy.
Amidst legal actions against Fremantle, Walliams claimed a breach of data protection laws related to private conversations recorded during his time on Britain’s Got Talent. The actor also revealed struggling with dark thoughts following his exit from the show.
Fremantle expressed surprise and sadness over the legal action initiated by Walliams but stated their willingness to engage in dialogue to resolve the matter. However, they emphasized their readiness to defend themselves against any allegations if needed.