Sky Drops Fing! and Broadcasters Remove David Walliams

Overview

• The joint Guardian and ITV investigation, published Tuesday, named David Walliams in allegations that he groomed fans as young as 15 and pressured young women, based on interviews with more than 100 sources.
• Producers of the Sundance film Fing! said they have excised Walliams’s cameo and barred him from any role in the film’s release or promotion.
• Comcast-owned Sky notified producers it will exit as the U.K. and Ireland licensee for Fing! and has removed content featuring Walliams from its platforms.
• The BBC removed shows featuring Walliams from its streaming service and Independent Talent Group has dropped him, while U.S. distributor Angel is reported to be cutting Walliams from stateside marketing ahead of an early-January release.
• Walliams denies being a sexual predator and lost a bid for an injunction to block publication; the actions by broadcasters and rights-holders leave the film’s U.K. rollout and rights negotiations in flux and raise broader reputational and legal questions for those involved.