Culture 2 min read By Morgan Griffin
London police investigate David Walliams over non-recent sexual offence allegations
London's Metropolitan Police have confirmed an investigation into comedian David Walliams over non-recent serious sexual offence allegations, while a film adapted from his book has been dropped from the Doha Film Festival.
London's Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating comedian and former Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams over allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences. The accused man is in his 50s, according to the police, who say the allegations differ from earlier claims that were reported publicly this week.
The earlier claims were published by ITV News and The Guardian. The Guardian report alleges the sexual abuse of a teenage girl and also alleges the grooming of young fans. Those allegations have not been proven, and no charges have been reported so far. The full scope of the police inquiry is not yet clear, and the police have not said when the investigation is expected to conclude.
The fallout has already reached the film industry. The Doha Film Festival has removed Fing! from its programme, a decision that follows the sexual misconduct allegations against Walliams. The film is adapted from his book, which means the withdrawal affects not only a single screening slot but a project built on the same work that made him a fixture of children's publishing.
Walliams has built a broad public profile across British television and bookshelves. His time as a judge on Britain's Got Talent brought him into millions of homes, and his children's novels have reached young readers in large numbers. That reach is part of why the allegations have drawn attention beyond the UK, and why the decision by a major international festival to pull his film has become a visible marker of how the claims are being received in the industry.
It is also important to note what has not happened. Police have not charged anyone in connection with the inquiry, and the allegations remain unproven. Each of the claims reported so far has yet to be tested in any legal process, and the public account of the case currently rests on journalistic reporting and the police confirmation that a probe is underway.
Source: deadline.com
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