David Walliams’ biggest controversies – blackface to ‘predatory paedophile’ sketch

David Walliams has recently shared an apology after discovering several conversations had been leaked, showing him making disrespectful comments about Britain’s Got Talent contestants.

Since becoming a household name with Matt Lucas during their Little Britain days, the comedian has faced several controversies but has been named one of TV’s favourite judges.

Walliams, 51, expressed his shock after discovering his comments which were made during private conversations had been leaked to the media.

The Mirror have delved through the archives to uncover some of his more shocking moments, including being branded a “predatory paedophile” and dating an 18-year-old.

Little Britain

During their Little Britain days, Matt and David were known for playing characters of different ethnicities during their sketches, using blackface.

As part of the show, David played the character Desiree DeVere while Matt played Pastor Jesse King, with both actors using blackface for the roles.

David Walliams and Matt Lucas came underfire for using blackface during Little Britain

In 2020, the BBC removed the programme Little Britain from iPlayer after citing that “times have changed” since it was first broadcasted by the network.

Walliams and Matt Lucas also issued a statement, explaining that they regretted playing characters of other races.

Matt went on to tweet: “David and I have both spoken publicly in recent years of our regret that we played characters of other races. Once again we want to make it clear that it was wrong and we are very sorry.

Transexual lap dance David is believed to have visited a lap-dancing bar before marrying Lara Stone (

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Back in 2010, David had the world at his feet and was due to marry model Lara Stone, who he now shares their son Alfred with.

During a busy night out at one of Mayfair’s most exclusive bars, Met Bar on Old Park Lane, the comedian allegedly received a lap dance from a stripper.

This Morning star Vernon Kay is believed to have said: “[The stripper] had big hands,” according to The Sun, who went on to add that following the exotic dance, David realised he wasn’t being entertained by a female.

It’s believed that following the revelation, the group including Matt Lucas, David Furnish, Walliams and Kay left the bar before heading to a nearby gentleman’s club, racking up a bill of almost £72,000.

‘Predatory paedophile’ sketch Walliams has been slammed for a Little Britain live sketch including a game of “Hide the Sausage” (

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David, in the past, has been slammed by human rights campaigners for a sketch which featured during Little Britain live shows.

In footage originally filmed in 2007, David was seen playing the role of gay children’s entertainer ‘Des Kaye’.

The routine often appeared with two men – one younger and one older – confirming their age, with Walliams’ character taking a particular interest in the younger of the two men.

Holby City actor Jeremy Edwards was left redfaced when Walliams exposed his genitals after forcefully removing his jeans (

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In one clip filmed in Australia, Des asks the contestant to confirm his age, with the boy stating he was 16, to which ‘Des’ responded with: “Bingo! You’re a big boy aren’t you, that’s what I’ll tell the judge.”

Meanwhile, footage filmed in London shows ‘Des’ tear down the trousers of Holby City star Jeremy Edwards, exposing his genitals and bare bottom, before ‘Des’ dry humps Edwards’ bare bottom before lying on top of him.

Following the incident, Walliams said: “That was not meant to happen. You were not supposed to see gonad. A*** crack, yes. Gonad, no.”

The actor included a 16-year-old boy in the sketch and told him he was a ‘big boy’

A clip also shows ‘Des’ attempting to get intimate with 25-year-old Jamie, who Des describes as “doable” while gazing at his bum, before later tackling him to the floor.

The character later grinded against the man’s naked bum, before lying on top of him and planting a kiss on him. He went on to rip his jeans down while walking off stage.

The sketch was labelled “sickening and unacceptable”

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell of the Peter Tatchell Foundation slammed the performance in 2020, saying: “Walliams’s portrayal of a predatory paedophile is not funny. It’s sickening and unacceptable.

“That sketch should not be repeated anywhere. It should be withdrawn from public viewing and filed in a film archive so that future historians have evidence of what passed for ‘comedy’ only 13 years ago.”

The Mirror approached Walliams’s representative for comment.

Age gap relationship Aged 37, David enjoyed a romance with 18-year-old aspiring model Lauren Budd (

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Getty Images) The pair only dated for three months but travelled the globe together (

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Getty Images)

Aged 37, David turned heads when he stepped out with an aspiring model Lauren Budd, aged just 18 in February 2009.

The pair were spotted locking lips at a nightclub while also on holiday together in Miami, leaving Lauren’s boyfriend heartbroken after discovering the snaps.

Lauren previously explained that despite being together for three months, the pair hadn’t slept together and described him as the perfect gentleman.

At the time, she said: “We have had a friendly kiss – nothing more. We love seeing each other and David is a complete gentleman. We had separate rooms in Miami and Barbados. And it will be separate rooms when we are in New York this week.

“I stayed at his house on Friday and I was in one room and he was in his upstairs. It was very nice.”

The pair split after just three months of dating.

‘Casual racism’ His book, Brian Wong Who Was Never Wrong, was claimed to have used “casual racism”

Harper Collins were forced to remove his book, Brian Wong Who Was Never Wrong from future editions of his story collection of The World’s Worst Children.

The book which was originally published in 2006 was slammed for featuring “casual racism”, with podcaster Georgie Ma saying: “There are so many racist jokes on ESEA [East and Southeast Asian] community with the surname Wong and associating it with wrong.

“If David Walliams would have done his research, he would have known this.”

While criticising the illustrations within the book, which she claimed was “normalising casual racism from an early age”, she added: “ou can see it’s just got the stereotypical small eyes, and the glasses, and it’s just complete casual racism, it just reminds me of the comics that white supremacists have telling Chinese people to go back to China.”

After meeting with Harper Collins, the publishing giant said: “In consultation with our author and illustrator we can confirm that a new story will be written to replace ‘Brian Wong’ in future editions of The World’s Worst Children.

“The update will be scheduled at the next reprint as part of an ongoing commitment to regularly reviewing content.”

Chloe Ayling David is believed to have enjoyed a romance with Chloe Ayling, then 20, when he was 44 (

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Chloe Ayling/Instagram) It’s believed he caught her attention on social media (

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Chloe Ayling/Instagram)

Chloe Ayling hit the headlines in 2017 when she is said to have been abducted during a fake photoshoot in Milan, Italy.

The model was targeted by an organisation named The Black Death Group, with members of the criminal group later sentenced for their crimes.

The group demanded €300,000 for the release of Ayling, stating that she would be sold as a sex slave on the dark web on July 16.

Some claimed that the kidnapping was a publicity stunt, while some claimed she had used the horrifying ordeal to benefit her career.

It’s believed that Chloe and David, then 44, started dating in February 2017, having gotten her attention on social media.

David reportedly “liked” several of the then 20-year-old’s snaps before they arranged to meet one another.

A source told The Sun: “David orchestrated the meeting and arranged for her to visit his London home, he is intrigued by her story and has clearly taken a shine to her. It’s a case of waiting and seeing if their relationship grows from here.”

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