David Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct, grooming teenagers and harassing women in the workplace. The allegations against the 55-year-old comedian, actor and bestselling author span more than 20 years.
The claims were made public following a three-year joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. Walliams lost a High Court bid to block their publication.
Allegations and Denial
Women claim he abused his status to target them for sexual purposes, while others reported inappropriate conduct in the workplace, including at Britain's Got Talent and his former publisher, HarperCollins.
Walliams has denied all allegations and maintained that he never abused his power. He said: "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."
Books in Question
As well as his comedy and acting career, Walliams is a multi-million-copy bestselling children's author. The recent allegations have raised questions over whether his books should remain in libraries.
Walliams began his career as an author with The Boy in the Dress in 2008. Since then, his books have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 50 languages.
Sales and Publisher Response
In the UK, he has sold over 26 million copies worth more than £156 million. Titles such as Gangsta Granny, Billionaire Boy and Demon Dentist have topped bestseller charts.
However, HarperCollins axed him last December following an internal misconduct investigation. More recently, the publisher confirmed it was phasing out his titles from shops and digital platforms.
