David Walliams controversy explained: Why HarperCollins dropped the children’s author

In a surprising move in the world of children’s books, David Walliams, one of Britain’s best-known authors, will no longer have new titles published by HarperCollins UK. The decision comes amid reports connected to alleged inappropriate behaviour towards young women, as reported by The Telegraph.

A spokesperson for HarperCollins told the Telegraph that the decision was made “after careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO”.

Responding to the news, Walliams’ representative said, “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.” They also added, “He had never been informed of any allegations raised against him” by the publisher.

HarperCollins stresses employee wellbeing

According to the report, the publishing company highlighted that it takes employee wellbeing “extremely seriously” and has “processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns”. They also stated, “To respect the privacy of individuals, we do not comment on internal matters.”

Walliams’ career in children’s literature

According to a BBC report, David Walliams is one of the UK’s most successful children’s authors, with more than 60 million books sold in 55 languages. HarperCollins published his first book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008. Several of his books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have been adapted into television films.

Television work and public appearances

Walliams gained fame with the TV sketch series Little Britain and later served as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, winning National Television Awards, as per the BBC report. He is scheduled to appear on the comedy panel show Would I Lie to You? on Boxing Day.

The BBC said, “While we're not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects directly involving David Walliams.”
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