Comedian Lucy Beaumont has been named as a whistleblower who raised concerns to journalists about David Walliams, and she broke down in tears as she worried the move could cost her future work in the television industry.
Beaumont, who was married to Jon Richardson, told Sky News anchor Cathy Newman that she offered support to one of the women connected to allegations against the Little Britain creator. Walliams, 55, denies all allegations against him, including those of criminal activity, and says he is "not a sexual predator".
Fear of losing work
In an emotional interview, Beaumont admitted: "Honestly, I don't think I'll work in telly again. I really 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."
Beaumont said a TV worker told her he had been asked to take young women to Walliams' dressing room, and that she later found one of the women and offered to help her.
Offering legal support
Beaumont offered to pay legal fees related to a non-disclosure agreement. She first tried to help privately, but later passed information to The Guardian.
She said on Sky: "I'm nearly crying... She couldn't talk to family, or friends, or her therapist.
"I did as much as I could do privately and whenever I've heard a rumour about anyone, I've done everything I can.
"There's only so much you can do. I'm not the police."
She added: "I was really worried, and I was one of the whistleblowers. I was one of the people to let the Guardian know."
Walliams' denial
Walliams has denied all allegations, releasing a statement that read: "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. 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."
