David Walliams

[HappyAmericanBully]

Just wondering when it’s going to be his turn? He must absolutely fucking bricking it right now. His books are shit as well.

He wasn’t. He was a co presenter on a crap talent contest.

He could have stopped at apologising though, rather than sue his employers and further highlight his awful behaviour.

Anonymous forum users bandying the word "cunt" around are not in the same situation at all. It's not about the word.
Walliams was in the public eye, a judge, and face of the biggest TV show in the country; the others were contestants hoping to please him, so there was that imbalance there, as well as the fact that he was at work when he made those comments, bringing his employer into disrepute.

As others have pointed out though, Walliams loves to punch
down.

Just re-theme it as something else, or back to what it was pre-DW.

I can't stand him - never liked him even in the Little Britain days - just found it offensive and offensively not funny as well, never blocked the kids from having access to his books but they just simply didn't like them - and got a bit annoyed at having them shoved at them as "the kids books everyone needs to read" over the years as well (DD1 is not shy of offering her opinions on things!) I don't ban books - I think I sent one school library book back with a request school reconsidered it from the class library as it was poking fun at someone who had dyspraxia and DD2 has the condition and was already being bullied at school - and my kids have read various bits of "problematic" literature - and we've talked about the issues around it, including books that reflect things that I personally don't agree with in terms of gender and transgender issues - I've always encouraged the kids to enjoy the story if it's a story they're enjoying, put the book down if it's crap and don't feel obligated to slog through something that's badly written, and just have a sceptical view on everything - because it's in print or on the internet it doesn't make it true or right.

I get sick of the bandwagon shite children's books in general though - and don't get me started on turgid shit like the fucking Rainbow Fairies... kids deserve something decent to read - not just whichever celeb has decided to have a nice little festive earner this year.

he was at work when he made those comments, bringing his employer into disrepute.

You mean the employer that made a private conversation public thus bringing itself into disrepute?

Eh? It's Walliams who has misbehaved, not his employers.

He was one of the ‘judges’.

Of course there is a power dynamic.

Unless you’re an 8-10year old child, it actually doesn’t matter what you think of his books, or others. There’s actually something a bit off about an adult who criticises children’s choices of fiction instead of stories aimed at them, then makes snobby comments about other authors who successfully tap into a child’s imagination and let it run freely, as it should, before they’re old enough to realise what a miserable state most grown ups live in.
If ANY book is a gateway to lifelong enjoyment of reading, then that’s all that matters. Stop policing children’s choice of reading.

There is no power dynamic. It’s a crap talent show with willing volunteers queuing up for potential public humiliation. No sympathy whatsoever.

But it's not a choice, @NeedToThinkOfOne .
When all the shops, libraries and bookshelves everywhere are only filled with the same very few authors, then it's not a choice. Children can only read the books made available to them.

Don't be ridiculous. Of course adults need to be invested in making sure children have access to quality books. If you only put junk food in front of children that's all they'll eat, it's not a gateway to healthier food. Same thing with DW. They're the literary equivalent of junk food. Fine in small quantities as part of a balanced diet, terrible when front and centre in all supermarkets and bookstores

Celeb authors are attractive to the parents who spend their money, not the kids. The kids have no idea who they are! But the parents think “ooh I know them”. It’s lazy marketing and publishers are cashing in.

Not a month goes by when there isn’t a celeb pushing their new kids book on BBC Breakfast. This month it was Dermot O’Leary.

When did you last visit a children’s book section in the library or a bookshop? I can assure you there’s plenty of others and I’d even say that the publicity and success of celebrity authors has perhaps encouraged more children to books and added some energy from the publishers into promoting children’s books. But this topic is perhaps for another thread, rather than here where people appear to be confused with fictional characters and knowing DW in real life.

Walliams was a ‘judge’ and as such (or at least it’s portrayed as such) gets to decide who progresses in the competition and who doesn’t. What is that if it isn’t a position of power?

People can choose to make a dick of themselves on TV if they want. They don’t deserve sexually explicit, cruel and misogynistic comments being made about them.

Of course adults need to be invested in making sure children have access to quality books. If you only put junk food in front of children that's all they'll eat, it's not a gateway to healthier food. Same thing with DW. They're the literary equivalent of junk food. Fine in small quantities as part of a balanced diet, terrible when front and centre in all supermarkets and bookstores

Sigh. The book snobbery is real. Next time you spot a dc reading any ‘junk’ perhaps lean in and tell them so. Swap it out for an apple.

On the same hand, I am saying facts about what a great legacy his books have funded- it has saved lives.

Food for thought on ‘celeb’ authors.

https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2022/dec/11/children-authors-kids-non-celebrity-book-christmas

The book was in school and part of a free library, he chose it himself after being told what a fabulous writer he was by his teacher.
It has been said that the Little Britain show was actually mocking attitudes of racism, bigotry and disabling amongst other unsavoury traits, but I think this is just a free pass to engage in those behaviours by people 'allowing their privilege to show.'
I suspect many people will be deeply ashamed of having laughed at Little Britain at society evolves.

@GrammarTeacher it was grotesque, surreal and over the top. I find this kind of stuff funny. As you might have guessed from my name, Im also a huge fan of the League of Gentlemen and I love old school stuff like Monthy Python. There is something delishously dark and weird about these which amuses me no end. But on the other hand I really dislike Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr, I find them too basic and nasty.

League of Gentlemen was much more amusing. I think because of the bizarreness. Hard agree on Gervaise and Carr though.
Bill Bailey is more my scene. In terms of sketch shows from the 90s The Fast Show and Goodness Gracious Me were much funnier imo

Modern society really doesn’t understand satire.

What exactly was satirical about Little Britain or the even worse Come Fly With Me. In the Thick of It, now that IS Satire.

Matt Lucas has just published a children's book.

The shops are businesses, they won't give shelf space to stuff that doesn't sell.

We can't really condemn Walliams for being racist and give Dahl a free pass. If we condemn one for his beliefs and what he's said then surely that should go for both?

I also agree with a previous poster about how Dahl treated his wife. He was no role model.

Neither do David Walliams or Matt Lucas.

Its not about ridiculing overweight people, mocking working class people or making fun of incontinence; and it doesn’t, or ought not to, involve blackface.