Former model and Real Housewives of Cheshire star Leilani Dowding has denied dating David Walliams, saying they only met once and never saw each other again. She described the encounter, which took place 22 years ago, as "odd" and "awkward".
One Dinner, No Romance
Dowding said: "I did not 'date' David Walliams; we went out once." She explained that she has no memory of how they met or how he had her number, as it was so long ago. "I wouldn't even remember the year; it wasn't for the article," she added.
According to Dowding, Walliams asked her out for dinner, but he was "awkward" and "not flirtatious". She recalled his comment: "You look cool. If I was a woman I'd want to dress like you'. I found it the strangest compliment, which is why I remember it. I was wearing jeans, a satin baseball jacket, and a baseball cap…"
No Attraction, No Kiss
Dowding said she was not attracted to him because he was "very camp", and she prefers "tough and alpha" men. She added: "He didn't hit on me. I assumed he was equally unattracted to me…" She stated that they did not kiss and that she had "no clue" about the allegations surrounding him.
Shortly after the encounter, Dowding moved to Los Angeles, where she lived for 15 years before returning to the UK in 2019. She said she was 25 at the time of the meeting.
Walliams Denies Allegations
The allegations against Walliams were reported by ITN and The Guardian, which named him as a male public figure who sought an injunction to keep allegations about his conduct private. Walliams has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was "devastated" by the claims.
In a statement, Walliams said: "I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. 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, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."
