Culture 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Lucy Beaumont fears TV blacklisting after speaking out on David Walliams
Comedian Lucy Beaumont says she worries the TV industry may shut her out after she came forward as a whistleblower over allegations against David Walliams, which he denies.
Comedian Lucy Beaumont says she fears being blacklisted by the television industry after acting as a whistleblower over allegations against David Walliams. Speaking to Sky News, the Taskmaster star and Hullraisers writer said she is worried about the professional consequences of speaking out, and she described her position as one of uncertainty about how the industry will respond to people who raise concerns about a high-profile performer.
The allegations were published by the Guardian on Tuesday, November 10. They accuse Walliams of using his fame to prey on young women and of inappropriate sexual relations. Walliams denies the accusations and says he has broken no law. The claims have not been tested in court, and the reporting presents them as allegations rather than established findings.
The fallout has already reached broadcasters. The BBC is removing Walliams-linked material from its streaming platform, including Little Britain, episodes of Would I Lie To You?, and a Doctor Who episode. The corporation is also reviewing all material written or starring Walliams, a review that extends beyond the titles already taken down. Sky is dropping Fing!, a film Walliams made that had already been completed. The film is still distributed in the United States, so its availability there is not affected by Sky's decision.
Little Britain, the sketch series Walliams co-created with Matt Lucas, is one of the most recognisable comedies associated with his name, and its removal from the BBC's streaming service marks a visible break with the programme's place in British television. Walliams's appearances on panel and comedy shows have likewise come under scrutiny as broadcasters assess their catalogues.
Jonathan Ross has also addressed the revelations. He says he is horrified by the conduct attributed to Walliams and to Russell Brand, and says he was unaware of their behaviour at the time. Ross was linked to a joke about Walliams at the 2004 British Comedy Awards, which he says was submitted by a writing team rather than written by him personally.
The developments come as Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault, a sentence reported on Monday, November 9. The sentencing gives the wider debate about conduct in British entertainment a concrete legal reference point, and Beaumont's remarks place the question of how the industry treats people who raise concerns about powerful performers at the centre of it.
Source: deadline.com
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