David Walliams has faced a deluge of criticism from fans after the BBC decided to air his controversial Would I Lie To You Christmas special.
The bestselling children’s author, 54, was dropped by HarperCollins last week after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female employees were investigated by the publishing house, which he strongly denies.
A spokesperson said he had ‘never been informed of any allegations raised against him’ and was ‘not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions’. He is understood to be taking legal advice.
After the comedian was axed from HarperCollins, the BBC confirmed that the Would I Lie To You festive special featuring him on Boxing Day would go ahead, while adding they have ‘no future projects’ planned with him.
The special itself faced trouble after Walliams was filmed jokingly doing Nazi salutes in front of a live audience at the taping that was eventually cut from the final episode, with the broadcaster issuing an apology.
Given the hotbed of controversies surrounding this particular Christmas special, fans shared their discontent at seeing Walliams on their screens.
‘David Walliams’ sinister presence and terrible humour ruined Christmas Would I Lie To You. Hope we never have to see that man again,’ X user cstsher wrote.
Ikraaa said she ‘just cannot stand him’, Belinda dubbed him ‘creepy and unfunny’ and em labelled him ‘insufferable’.
The BBC also faced criticism for deciding to go ahead with airing the episode.
‘WILTY Christmas special with David Walliams still airing YIKES,’ remmy shared.
Nicky Cunningham agreed the BBC ‘do themselves no favours’ and Annie called it ‘uncomfortable to watch’.
Just months before the Little Britain star was dropped by HarperCollins, with whom he had worked since 2008, he had shared concern over certain private messages.
Speaking at a cybersecurity convention in February, Walliams admitted he was worried about his risque WhatsApp messages with friends one day being made public.
‘Imagine if all my WhatsApp messages came out!
‘Not because there’s anything awful on there, but there’s jokes, bad taste jokes, with friends, other comedians, very bad taste comments and jokes, all the time, that you share with each other,’ he joked, according to the Daily Mail.
He added: ‘He added to the audience: ‘You may notice that the kind of things you share with each other are often in quite poor taste.
‘I can’t imagine it’s just me, right?’
Walliams’ private remarks have previously been made public.
In 2022, he was forced to leave Britain’s Got Talent after leaked recordings of him making sexist remarks towards female contestants.
He later apologised and reached a settlement with the production company Fremantle following his lawsuit for misuse of private information and breach of data protection laws.
Would I Lie To You is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
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