David Walliams Allegations: A Timeline of Controversy and Consequences
Understanding the David Walliams Allegations
The British entertainment world has been rocked by serious allegations against David Walliams, one of the UK’s most successful children’s authors and television personalities. In 2025, HarperCollins ended their publishing contract with him following an internal investigation into his behaviour towards junior female staff at the company. These developments have significant implications for the publishing industry, child safeguarding, and workplace conduct standards.
The Recent HarperCollins Investigation
David Walliams, a bestselling British children’s author, was dropped by HarperCollins UK after the Daily Telegraph reported the publisher had investigated claims that he had harassed some of its junior female employees. The newspaper said one of the women who had raised concerns about the 54-year-old had been given a five-figure payoff by the publisher and left. The publisher released a statement confirming the decision but declined to comment on internal matters.
A spokesperson for Walliams said in a statement that he “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,” the statement said.
Previous Controversies
This isn’t the first time Walliams has faced public scrutiny. In November 2022, it emerged that Walliams had made sexually explicit and derogatory remarks towards some of the contestants on Britain’s Got Talent, during a recording at the London Palladium in January 2020. Following this incident, he apologised and eventually left his role as a judge on the popular ITV talent show. In 2023, Walliams reached a settlement with the production company Fremantle after filing a lawsuit.
Impact on Career and Industry
Walliams is one of the most successful authors since accurate records began, having sold 25.7 million books through NielsenIQ BookScan’s Total Consumer Market for £153.3m since he started publishing with HarperCollins in 2008. The decision to drop such a commercially successful author demonstrates the seriousness with which publishers now treat workplace conduct allegations.
Waterstones also removed Walliams from the line‑up of its 2025 Children’s Book Festival following the allegations. This broader industry response reflects heightened awareness around safeguarding and appropriate conduct, particularly for figures who work with children’s content.
What This Means for Readers and the Publishing World
The Walliams case highlights important questions about accountability, due process, and workplace standards in publishing. While the author maintains his innocence and claims he wasn’t given opportunity to respond, the publisher has stood by its decision based on internal investigation processes. This situation serves as a reminder that reputation and commercial success do not exempt individuals from scrutiny regarding their workplace conduct. As the story continues to develop through potential legal proceedings, it represents a significant moment for discussions around power dynamics, workplace safety, and accountability in creative industries.