David Walliams, the comedian and bestselling children's author, has been dropped by his long-time publisher HarperCollins following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Publisher Severs Ties After Investigation
The decision by HarperCollins UK not to publish any new titles by the 54-year-old comes after the company reportedly looked into claims of 'harassing' junior female employees. According to reports, Walliams was unaware of the investigation but has now been informed of the publisher's decision.
A spokesperson for HarperCollins told Metro: 'After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams.' They added that the company takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes for reporting concerns.
A Lucrative Partnership Ends
The split marks the end of a highly successful commercial relationship. Walliams, a former judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent, signed his first book deal with HarperCollins in 2008 and became one of the UK's highest-earning authors. By 2019, it was estimated he had sold £100 million worth of books for the publisher.
His popular titles, such as Gangsta Granny and Mr Stink, have been adapted into BBC films and even featured in McDonald's Happy Meal promotions. However, his reputation has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years.
A Pattern of Controversial Behaviour
This publishing fallout follows Walliams' high-profile exit from Britain's Got Talent in 2022. A leaked transcript from the show's auditions revealed he had made derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about contestants, including calling one a 'c**'.
Furthermore, his children's books have previously faced accusations of racism and fat-shaming. In 2020, Walliams and his comedy partner Matt Lucas apologised for using blackface in their Little Britain sketches, stating publicly that it was wrong.
The Telegraph's investigation also revealed that a HarperCollins employee who raised concerns about Walliams' behaviour received a five-figure payout and subsequently left the company.
Metro has contacted representatives for both David Walliams and HarperCollins for further comment.
