David Walliams Dropped by Publisher After Serious Allegations Surface
So, there’s been a major development around David Walliams that’s getting a lot of attention right now, especially in the UK media and publishing world. The headline is this: David Walliams has been dropped by his long-time publisher, HarperCollins UK, and it’s a move that marks a significant turning point in his career as a bestselling children’s author.
HarperCollins confirmed that it has decided not to publish any new titles by Walliams. The statement was brief and carefully worded, saying the decision came after “careful consideration” under the leadership of its new chief executive. No specific reasons were officially given, and the publisher made it clear that internal matters would not be discussed. However, reports from outlets like The Telegraph and The Guardian suggest that the decision followed an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward young women working at the company.
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According to those reports, complaints were raised by junior female staff, with claims that they had been harassed. It has been reported that HarperCollins carried out an internal inquiry after a complaint was made back in 2023. During that time, steps were reportedly taken to limit contact between Walliams and certain employees. These measures are said to have included discouraging one-on-one meetings, asking staff to attend meetings in pairs, and limiting visits to his home. One woman who raised concerns is understood to have left the company after reaching a settlement.
What’s notable is that Walliams was reportedly not informed while the investigation was ongoing, and the findings were not formally presented to him. The final decision to cut ties is said to have come after changes in HarperCollins’ leadership, with a new CEO stepping in during October.
This development is especially striking given Walliams’ massive success as a children’s author. Since his first book, The Boy in the Dress, was published in 2008, he has sold more than 60 million books worldwide, translated into over 50 languages. Titles like Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy became household names and were even adapted for television. At one point, his book sales were estimated to be worth around £100 million.
But this isn’t the first time Walliams has been surrounded by controversy. In recent years, criticism has been aimed at aspects of his writing, including the use of stereotypes, and he has faced backlash for behaviour on television. He left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after leaked remarks about contestants caused public outrage, for which he later apologised. Earlier this year, he was also criticised for making Nazi salutes during a comedy show recording, which the BBC described as unacceptable.
For now, BBC News and other outlets have reached out to Walliams’ representatives for comment, but no public response has been given. What’s clear is that this decision by HarperCollins represents a major shift, not just for Walliams personally, but for one of the most commercially successful figures in modern children’s publishing.
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