Children's charity Make-A-Wish UK has said it has "no intention of working with" David Walliams in the future, becoming the latest organisation to distance itself from the actor and author following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The charity, which grants wishes to critically ill children, confirmed that Walliams' involvement ended in 2022 and that it has "no active relationship" with him.
Charity Responds to Allegations
In a statement, Make-A-Wish said: "We are aware of the recent reporting concerning David Walliams. He previously supported Make-A-Wish UK, but his involvement with the charity ended in 2022. We have no active relationship with him and have no intention of working with him in the future."
Walliams, 55, had been an ambassador for the organisation, which aims to bring back the magic of childhood for critically ill children. In 2021, he helped spearhead a fundraising campaign after the pandemic caused a dramatic fall in the charity's income, leaving thousands of children without the opportunity for a wish.
His appeal featured Walliams describing himself as "a proud supporter" who had "seen first-hand how a wish can bring light to children living in the darkness of a critical condition".
Allegations and Court Case
Walliams was revealed this week to be the household name who had tried to suppress accusations that he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and preyed on multiple teenagers. The former Britain's Got Talent judge lost his court fight last week, and his identity was revealed after he missed a deadline to appeal the decision.
He is accused of "abusing his status" on Little Britain and Britain's Got Talent and engaging in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities" with "a large number" of young women and girls. He has not been arrested or charged with any offence, but his legal team said he will never return to public life.
Walliams denies any wrongdoing and told the High Court he would kill himself if his identity was revealed. The claims followed an investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. One woman said that an alleged encounter with Walliams when she was 15 was sexual assault, while multiple women accused him of "grooming" them as teenagers.
Wider Fallout
Walliams' former school, Collingwood Boys' School in Wallington, south London, said it was "revisiting its collection" of his books. A spokesperson said: "The current situation has prompted us to revisit our collection as part of this ongoing process, rather than as an isolated or reactive decision."
This week, a film based on his 2019 children's book Fing! was dropped by Sky, he was dropped by his longtime literary agency ITG, and Labour suspended him as a party member. The BBC has also started removing programmes featuring Walliams, confirming it was "looking carefully" at all material featuring and written by him, including Little Britain.
Next week, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will meet entertainment industry chiefs to "discuss the action that we need to take" following the allegations. Ms Nandy said: "But if those protections are insufficient, the government will not hesitate to take further action."
Jonathan Ross, 65, who was friends with both Walliams and Russell Brand, said: "I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct. My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward."
Walliams told ITV News and The Guardian: "I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with. I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. Whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.
"I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law. I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."
