This post is a departure from anything I have ever written. It might even come across as bitchy and intolerant, but when it comes down to David Walliams I don't care and recent events have finally given me the ammunition I need to play my part in exposing him for what he is.
"Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!" - I say sarcastically.
David Walliams first came into the public eye with Matt Lucas with his much lauded Little Britain comedy sketch show. While I am proudly British I never found it anything but stupid - even beyond my sense of humour that still appreciates Benny HIll (not very politically-correct I know) and Monty Python. Little Britain was just ridiculous for me, but different people, different senses of humour, live and let live.
He then began to appear more and more on TV with shows such as Britain has Got Talent and a host of Christmas shows. He also became a prolific author of children's books with an LGBT+ leaning - for example The Boy in the Dress which is a celebration of individuality and freedom from traditional gender or sexual definitions.
So far so good, so what's my problem?
My problem is the guy himself. I have seen him a few times on chat shows - for example Jonathon Ross - and it is always about he, him and himself. The normal routine is that guests come out one at a time and have their slot and then another guest is introduced with the same intention but with space for some banter between the guests and Jonathon. Many of the guests are highly esteemed in their own right usually as musicians or actors and they all follow the ettiqutte of the show. I vividly remember such highly regarded individuals as Ray Winstone and Sir Ian McKellen appearing and following the rules and being very gracious and inclusive towards other guests.
Not David Walliams, who time after time makes it about himself and will cut off other guests and draw Jonathon's attention and make it all about self-promotion.
It seems to me that only his pen is tolerant!
So it was with little surprise that I saw the news over the last few days.
While Walliams has vigorously denied any and all allegations multiple reports of inappropriate behaviour towards junior female employees, his publisher HarperCollins UK has dropped him following an internal investigation into allegations . This means they will stop publishing his new books and this just set the ball rolling. In the past few days since then, Waterstones, the largest UK high street book shop chain, has also removed him from their Children’s Book Festival lineup after the allegations became public and a decision has yet to be made to pull him from the Christmas line up.
It may be a case of smoke and mirrors or even a case of where there is smoke there is fire and I am not in a position to discuss the rights and wrongs of how he conducts himself behind the scenes. I am not suggesting, even in the slightest that he is another Jimmy Saville or a person of that ilk, but looking at the way he behaves with the camera on him it can be expected that he behaves a lot worse when not under the steady gaze of the media.
He is arrogant aloof and simply rude.
Even before these allegations arose and having seen how he behaves on chat shows, which many of us have seen if I were in a position of authority, I simply wouldn't have invited him again. Nobody wants an asshole at their birthday party.
Of course this is a deeply personal opinion and many of you may disagree, but one of the things about freedom is the ability to express views freely without prejudice so long as they are not inciting any kind of aggression (sorry my American friends but that is where the point is often missed in your country) and this is simply what I am doing here. I hope maybe he will use the time to have a good hard look in the mirror and learn from the experience.
I am doubtful such is his narcissim but who knows?
Not my usual sort of post, but a valid one nonetheless.
As always stay safe and well my friends.
