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A MadeForMums report offers expert guidance for parents whose children may have questions about allegations reported by ITV News and The Guardian against David Walliams. Walliams denies the allegations; experts advise parents to tailor conversations to a child’s age, explain what an allegation means and avoid sharing unnecessary detail.
MadeForMums has published guidance for parents on discussing allegations against children’s author and comedian David Walliams, following a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian. The allegations include grooming teenage fans as young as 15 and sexual harassment in the workplace; Walliams denies them, and the claims are not proof of wrongdoing.
The report focuses on what parents can tell children who know Walliams from books including Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress. Its advice is to first find out what a child has already heard, rather than automatically introducing the story. One suggested opening is: “Have you heard anything about David Walliams in the news?”
Dr Jemma Anderson, a Chartered Educational Psychologist and founder of Perceptive Educational Psychology Service, says parents do not need to introduce every difficult news story. A conversation may help when children are likely to hear about it elsewhere or have noticed adults discussing it. The report advises keeping explanations brief and answering the question a child actually asks.
For younger children, parents can say that people have raised concerns about behaviour and that not everything is known. Older children can be told that an allegation is a claim that something happened: it should be taken seriously, but does not establish what happened. With teenagers, the report suggests asking what they have read and where it came from, and discussing consent, boundaries and power without directing them to a particular conclusion.
Helping Children Separate Claims From Facts
The story may reach children through school conversations, social media or adults around them, even if parents have not raised it. A calm, age-appropriate explanation can help children distinguish a serious allegation from an established finding and give them a chance to ask questions rather than relying on fragments or rumors.
There is also an emotional question for children who enjoy Walliams’ work. The report says they may feel confused about liking books by someone who is now the subject of troubling claims. Dr Anderson advises parents to acknowledge that tension rather than dismiss it. Children do not need to feel embarrassed about having enjoyed the stories, and liking a book does not require them to defend its author or decide what happened.
These conversations can also introduce broader ideas, particularly for teenagers: people should be able to speak about unwanted or inappropriate behaviour, and fame or status should not put someone beyond scrutiny. Those points can be discussed while making clear that the specific allegations remain allegations.
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What the Investigation Reported
The MadeForMums article describes the claims as stemming from a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian. It reports allegations that Walliams groomed teenage fans, including people as young as 15, and sexually harassed women in the workplace. The provided source does not set out the underlying evidence or individual accounts in detail.
Walliams rejected the accusations in a letter quoted by The Guardian. He said: “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.” His denial is part of the account; the allegations should not be presented as established fact.
The parenting advice in the report is organized around children’s age and understanding. It recommends avoiding graphic details, checking what a child already knows and leaving space for them to return to the subject later. The guidance is about how to discuss a developing news story, not a judgment on the truth of the claims.
“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.”
— David Walliams, in a letter quoted by The Guardian
The Allegations and Their Status
The claims have not been established as facts in the supplied material, and Walliams denies them. The source does not provide details about any legal proceedings, independent findings, responses from the people who made the allegations, or the status of the investigation’s evidence. It is also unclear how widely children have encountered the story or whether Walliams, the publishers, or other organizations have made further statements.
Parents should avoid filling those gaps with speculation. The report’s suggested approach is to say what is known at a level a child can understand, acknowledge what is not known and revisit the discussion if more information emerges or the child has further questions.
Following Further Reporting and Questions
The next developments depend on further reporting or statements from the people involved; the source does not give a timetable for either. Parents can check for reliable updates before discussing new claims with children and should make clear when information is still unconfirmed.
If a child has already heard about the story, parents can ask what they understand and how they feel. The MadeForMums advice is to keep the conversation open: offer an age-appropriate answer, avoid details the child has not asked for, and let them return to the subject later.
Key Questions
What are David Walliams accused of?
The MadeForMums report says ITV News and The Guardian reported allegations of grooming teenage fans, including people as young as 15, and sexual harassment in the workplace. Walliams denies the allegations; they should not be treated as proven based on this report.
Should I tell my child about the allegations?
The report says parents do not necessarily need to raise the story if a younger child has not heard about it and is not following the news. If the child may encounter it at school, online or through adults, ask what they already know and respond to their questions.
How can I explain what an allegation means?
You can explain that an allegation is a claim that something happened. It should be taken seriously, but it does not mean the facts have been established. Keep the explanation clear and appropriate to the child’s age.
What if my child asks whether they can still enjoy his books?
The report says children do not need to feel embarrassed about having enjoyed Walliams’ stories. Parents can acknowledge that the news may feel confusing while explaining that liking someone’s work does not require a child to defend the person or decide whether the allegations are true.
Source: madeformums.com
