Ministers could force media bosses to improve safeguarding and crack down on “abuses of power” in the wake of “deeply troubling” allegations about David Walliams and the conviction of Russell Brand, it has been reported.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has summoned senior members of the media and entertainment to meet her next week, where she will tell them they must get a handle on the issue or face government intervention.
Ms Nandy is expected to tell leaders they must draw a “line in the sand” after she called the allegations against Walliams the “latest in a long line of reported abuses of power” in the media industry.
The BBC reports that if bosses do not implement change themselves, the culture secretary could enforce mandatory participation in the industry body in a bid to protect whistleblowers. Participation in the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) is currently voluntary.
Andy Burnham’s official spokesperson said the intervention was to “put a stop to abuses of power”, while media minister Ian Murrary said a “cultural problem” needs to be “stamped out” in the media industry.
Walliams, 55, has been accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour from a number women, including two who claimed they were “groomed” by the comedian when they were 15. The allegations came a day after Brand, 51, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others.
Walliams has denied any wrongdoing and insisted he is “not a sexual predator”, adding he is “devastated” that the allegations, published by The Guardian and ITV News, have been brought against him. His lawyers had taken a case to the High Court to try to stop the allegations being published.
Giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Murray said he was “deeply saddened and also angry” to see the prevalence of abuse by men. He said: “The culture in this sector for many years hasn’t been good. We’ve got to support the brave women that are coming forward, not just women, but brave women in particular.
“I think we just need to continue to send out a message as a government, as a Parliament, but also as audiences, that this is completely unacceptable behaviour. This industry has, in the past, been rife with it. It’s a cultural problem and that culture has to change.”
When asked over Mr Burnham’s message to the TV industry, his spokesperson said the allegations faced by Walliams were “deeply troubling”. He added: “Men in positions of power using their influence to exploit vulnerable young women and girls is evident in this case, and it’s a pattern of behaviour that needs to change.
“We’re clear that every organisation should look hard at whether they are doing enough to keep people safe, and if people can raise concerns, knowing that their allegations will be taken seriously.”
The Metropolitan Police said it had contacted The Guardian and ITV News to “ensure that any potential victims” are “made aware of how they could report any criminal allegations to police”, after the sexual misconduct claims were made.
The force has not said it is carrying out a criminal investigation.
During ITV’s reporting of its investigation into Walliams, a photograph resurfaced showing Jonathan Ross alongside Walliams at an event also attended by one of the women who later accused Walliams of “highly inappropriate” behaviour. Lawyers for Walliams have said he denies behaving inappropriately.
In a statement on Tuesday night, Ross, who has appeared on TV shows with Walliams, said: “I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct.
“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.”
Meanwhile, Sky has said it had dropped Walliams’ movie Fing! following the allegations made against him. Several of his children’s books have been adapted into films, including Fing!, which was published in 2019.
In a statement, a Sky spokesperson said: “The allegations made against David Walliams are extremely serious. We have notified the producers of the film of our intention to exit our position as the UK and Ireland licensee of Fing!. We have already removed content which features him from our platforms.”
Angel Studios also confirmed it will still release the film in the US, but a cameo featuring Walliams will be removed and he will not take part in its promotion.
Since Walliams was named in the ITV News and The Guardian investigation, he has been dropped by his literary agent, while the BBC said it was “in the process of removing” programmes including Little Britain.
In a letter understood to have been sent several months ago by Walliams to journalists working on the ITV News and Guardian investigations, he wrote: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.
“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret.
“And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”
He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Walliams has yet to respond following the publication of his name on Tuesday.
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