David Walliams has said he is "not a sexual predator" after a court injunction blocking publication of sexual misconduct allegations was lifted. The comedian and author faces accusations from multiple women who say he used his celebrity status to prey on them for sexual purposes when they were teenagers or young women.
The allegations were published in a joint investigation by ITV News and the Guardian. The Metropolitan Police said it has contacted both outlets so "any potential victims" know how to report "any criminal allegations", but added that it has not received any related reports of sexual assault or any other offences.
BBC Breakfast interrupted for update
BBC Breakfast was paused for an update on the story, with hosts Jon Kay and Emma Vardy addressing the newspaper front pages as programmes featuring Walliams were pulled off air. Emma said: "Let's return to our top story now and it's running on the front pages. Those allegations of sexual misconduct by several women against the comedian and author David Walliams."
The update follows a three-year investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. Emma went on: "The Sun reports the BBC is removing some programmes featuring Walliams including the sketch show Little Britain." Walliams denies any wrongdoing.
Walliams responds in letter
In a letter addressed to journalists working on the Guardian and ITV investigation, Walliams wrote: "Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with... 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."
He added: "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."
