A 2004 joke by Jonathan Ross about David Walliams "going home with 15-year-olds" has resurfaced after Walliams lost a High Court bid to block publication of a Guardian and ITV News investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.
At the 2004 British Comedy Awards, Ross opened proceedings with a quip about Walliams, saying: "The comedy awards is 15 years old - 15 years old! And like most 15-year-olds, it's drunk, it's unpredictable and it's probably going home with David Walliams." Walliams appeared to laugh off the remark, responding with a two-fingered gesture.
Ross responds to resurfaced joke
When approached by The Guardian, Ross responded through his lawyers, stating that he had not written the joke himself. He later clarified: "I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old."
Ross said the joke was submitted to him by the Comedy Awards script writing team and he believed the punchline referred to Walliams having publicly dated younger women, "exaggerated for comic effect." He added: "It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point. Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him."
Walliams loses injunction bid
Walliams, 55, was revealed as the subject of a significant investigation after losing a legal battle attempting to prevent publication of allegations. He had sought an injunction citing the risk to his own life following two previous suicide attempts, reports the Daily Star.
Full details of the investigation were published by The Guardian and ITV News, with multiple women alleging that the author exploited his celebrity status to prey on them sexually. Walliams has firmly denied all of the allegations. Lawyers representing the media organisations previously informed the High Court in London that the allegations centred on Walliams' alleged "abuse of power and status" to contact young women and attempt to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities".
Walliams denies allegations
In a reported letter to The Guardian and ITV News, Walliams stated: "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."
The Metropolitan Police said it has contacted The Guardian and ITV News to ensure that any potential victims are made aware of how they could report any criminal allegations to police. A Met spokesperson said: "We're aware of reports in the media in relation to allegations involving a man in his 50s. The Met has not received any related reports of sexual assault or any other offences. Should we receive any reports, they will be carefully assessed. Anyone who contacts the police will be supported by specialist officers." Reports can be made by calling 101, providing the reference 4900/10NOV26.
