Jeremy Edwards has accused David Walliams of sexually humiliating him during a Comic Relief sketch in 2006, saying the incident has haunted him for years. The 55-year-old actor, known for Hollyoaks and Holby City, appeared on stage with Walliams at the Hammersmith Apollo, where the comedian pulled down his trousers and exposed him to the audience.
Allegations and police investigation
Walliams was named on Tuesday as the high-profile figure who had tried to prevent allegations of sexual misconduct being published. The Guardian reported that multiple women had accused Walliams of abusing his power and position as a celebrity to prey on them for sexual purposes when they were teenagers or young women. He denies wrongdoing.
The Metropolitan Police have since launched a criminal investigation into the author.
Edwards describes the incident
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Edwards described his humiliation after taking part in a game of hide the sausage, during which Walliams lunged at him before pulling down his jeans and underwear. Footage of the game, in which Walliams simulates sex acts, sparked outrage when it re-emerged on social media in 2020.
It simply was abuse. I did not agree to it, he said. You just cant do that to people. Having your trousers pulled down and youre stood there in your boxer shorts is one thing. Having your penis exposed is something very different.
I didnt know that was going to happen. Im angry because why did they think that would be OK with me? If they had said to me By the way they are going to expose you in front of everybody would you agree?. Well the answer is no. What we are talking about here is consent and I didnt consent to it. In reality I went down, flip bang. Its all on video bang to rights.
He added: He knew exactly what he was going to do and had no qualms doing it to me. Its not something Im proud of but I am the victim here. I wish it had never happened. It was supposed to be a bit of fun and instead its been something that has haunted me for years.
No apology received
Edwards said he previously thought Walliams did not mean to go as far as he did with the sketch, but has never received an apology. I never knew it was something that was done with intent, he said. Its only recently that I have seen footage of previous shows that I realised that was always the plan. It wasnt an accident that my pants got pulled down.
Describing what happened, Edwards said he desperately tried to get Walliams off him. He tickled me under the arms so that I pulled them into my chest and as soon as he did that he dropped to his knees and pulled both my trousers and my pants down so Im completely naked from the waist down in front of 3,500 people, he said. I bent down to pull my trousers up and when I did that he knocked me over while I was off balance. Then he mounted me and sexually humiliated me. I was sexually humiliated. It got a massive laugh.
I couldnt get him off. Im 6ft 2ins but hes a big guy and very strong. I ended up tapping out like a wrestler. I was saying Get off me. Get off me. I got up and pulled my trousers up. I felt angry but mainly embarrassed and humiliated. It was deeply uncomfortable.
Walliams denied any wrongdoing against him after his name was uncovered last week, saying in a statement issued to ITV and The Guardian: I am not a sexual predator I have not broken the law. I am devastated that some of the women I met ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.
