HarperCollins to Stop Publishing David Walliams Books Amid Harassment Allegations

Publisher HarperCollins has announced it will cease publication of all David Walliams's books, nine months after initially dropping the author due to allegations of inappropriate behavior.

The decision extends to the full backlist of the children's author, whose books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide. HarperCollins will also phase out existing stock from bookstores.

Walliams, known for his roles in the BBC comedy Little Britain and as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, faced an investigation after a complaint was made regarding alleged harassment of employees at the publishing firm. Walliams has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In December, HarperCollins confirmed it would not publish any new titles by the 55-year-old, stating that the publisher "takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns." At that time, a spokesperson for Walliams stated he had not been informed of any allegations by HarperCollins and was not part of any investigation, adding that he "strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice."

Walliams's literary career saw him achieve significant success with titles such as "The Boy In The Dress," "Fing," and "Gangsta Granny," the latter of which was adapted into a BBC television special.

His public profile has also been marked by controversy. In 2022, Walliams left Britain's Got Talent after apologizing for "disrespectful comments" made about auditioning contestants in 2020. Fremantle, the show's producer, later issued an apology and reached an "amicable resolution" with Walliams after remarks made during the show were leaked.

Walliams was recognized with an OBE in 2017 for his contributions to the arts and charity work, including a 140-mile swim down the River Thames that raised £2 million for Sport Relief.