Comedian Lucy Beaumont has received widespread support after identifying herself as a whistleblower who raised concerns about David Walliams. The 43-year-old TV star became emotional as she told Sky News anchor Cathy Newman that addressing the allegations against the Little Britain star could cost her a place in the industry.
Beaumont's claims and concerns
Walliams, 55, denies all allegations of wrongdoing against him, including criminal activity. He says claims that he targeted teenage women and used his celebrity status to manipulate them to have sex with him are false. He also rejects allegations that he behaved inappropriately or sexually harassed anyone in the workplace.
In the November 10 interview, Beaumont claimed that a TV worker told her he had been routinely asked to take young women believed to be over 16 years old into Walliams' dressing room. Beaumont herself has never worked with Walliams and has not witnessed anything firsthand.
Duty of care and NDA concerns
She said she felt a duty of care for the women because "there is no HR department" in the industry. Beaumont said she tried to support one of the women and offered to pay legal fees related to a non-disclosure agreement. She revealed: "She, I believe, had signed an NDA to say she couldn't talk to family or friends or a therapist."
The Cornwall-born comedian admitted: "I don't think I'll work in telly again, I honestly don't. The reason high-profile people are not saying anything is because they'll lose work, because you're seen as a trouble-causer." After trying to help privately, Beaumont later passed the information on to The Guardian.
Public support and Walliams' response
The interview has spread quickly across social media, where Beaumont has been flooded with words of support. One person posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Lucy Beaumont is a hero. What a kind, compassionate, and brave human." Another commented on Beaumont's Instagram page: "Your interview on Sky was incredible and moving." Yet another supporter shared: "Well done, Lucy. You were so brave," with a fourth person adding: "It took a lot of courage to speak out. Good on you, Lucy!"
Someone else added: "So much respect for Lucy Beaumont. Remarkable interview and it needed that length for her to get her points across. Change is needed. The time is now."
David Walliams has denied abusing his power as a celebrity in relationships with women but said he realised he had "behaved thoughtlessly". In a statement to The Guardian and ITV News, the comedian said: "Looking back, 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."
He added: "And 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 ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me." David Walliams' representatives have been approached for comment.
