British children’s author David Walliams denies inappropriate behaviour after being dropped by HarperCollins

What HarperCollins UK said

“After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision,” HarperCollins said in a statement on Friday.

David Walliams denies allegations

A spokesperson for Walliams said in a statement that he “has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins.”

“He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice,” the statement said.

The publisher said it would not comment on internal matters, “to respect the privacy of individuals.”

“HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns,” it said.

Who is David Walliams?

Walliams has published over 40 children’s books and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website.

Several of them, including “Gangsta Granny,” have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage productions.

Walliams left his role as judge on “Britain’s Got Talent” in 2022 after apologizing for making “disrespectful comments” about auditioning contestants.

The Telegraph, which first reported the development, said Walliams faced accusations that he had “harassed” junior female employees at Harper Collins.

One woman who raised concerns was given a five-figure payoff by the publisher and left the business.

The Telegraph, in its report, said it had been investigating allegations against Walliams since last year.