David Walliams

[Navelgazers]

He's on the wall of my child's school as author of the month. I just do not see the appeal - as I see it he got into writing easily, already being a celebrity, and found success as he used the same illustrator as Roald Dahl - Quentin Blake.

There have been threads in the past about him, and now this
www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/10/david-walliams-recorded-derogatory-remarks-britains-got-talent-bgt-contestants

Basically, saying really offensive things about some BGT contestants, on mic. Of course they were going to be leaked.

Having gone back and read some of Roald Dahl's books with my kids many of them aren't nearly as good as younger me remembers and a few of them are pretty problematic.

Obviously they are a product of their time etc and must be viewed as such but still, several of them are littered with casual racism and classism and a degree of caution is required.

Dd hated his books so we avoided them for a long time, but then reluctant reader ds got into them at school and I was just grateful he was reading.
They are horrible though, DH found them very old fashioned and quite unpleasant regarding relationships between kids and adults. And the horrible character is always, always fat.
Cressida Cowell and the Tom Gates books I find far more palatable. Luckily ds has moved on! Tom Fletcher was also a surprise hit, and David Baddiel. Don’t tell me they’re horrible people too…

Don't know how he still gets work on TV when it's common knowledge how awful he's always been

You need to separate the art from the artist. If your kids like his books it doesn’t matter what he’s like as a person.

My daughter used to love Michael Morpurgo's books. We even went to meet him a few times. He seems very nice and I love War Horse!

@Cryingbutstilltrying Tom Fletcher is one of the loveliest celebs out there

There's something very 'off' with Walliams, can't put my finger on it but he creeps me out.

James Corden and now David Walliams, a good year for twat/creep exposure.

Let's hope it's the tip of the iceberg for Walliams and other leaks follow. This one shows someone doesn't like him and has had enough with the wall of silence.

That argument only tends to be used to excuse men with horrific private lives. Women are rarely afforded the private/public distinction to start with.

he has gotten away with far too much for far too long.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8524613/Video-David-Walliams-humiliating-young-men-pulling-pants-stage.html

www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53038466

www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/100967520/david-walliams-dumped-by-bookshops-after-mens-club-sexual-harassment-claims

www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/04/harpercollins-removes-story-from-david-walliams-book-the-worlds-worst-children

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/david-walliams-childrens-books-racism-fatshaming-little-britain-jack-monroe-twitter-a9604091.html

James corden?

I agree to a point but I wouldn't be wanting to give him money!

He's one of those pile em high, sell em cheap authors that could dish up any old crap (and does) but can sell it off his celebrity.

You could argue that he makes money for publishers which then finances other less lucrative authors, but he's a cash cow, not a writer.

Exposed as twat recently, another one where this was widely known but not reported on

Yep , I agree

Although I loathe DW, this is very true!

In a world that has Cressida Cowell, we don't need David Walliams. I hate him. His books are crap and lazy. At least David Baddiel can write. Liz Pichon (Tom Gates) and the treehouse books are also great for younger more reluctant readers. And once they get to 9 or 10 there are so many lovely options - stuff like Artemis Fowl and Percy Jackson are wonderful.

Read a few pages of Walliams and that was quite enough. Can't stand Roald Dahl's books either. Gross and sadistic. There are much better authors out there than either of those two.

The 13 Storey Treehouse books that is

That was my thought too, starting with Enid Blyton, a very unpleasant woman.

Yep fortunately the dc felt the same

My son has a high reading age, but I don't want him reading anything gritty or bad language yet, he's too young.

One problem is I walk around waterstones and there was so many lovely, good quality, well written, books, but they're all expensive. My local library has a dearth of good books, but plenty of David Walliams. I wish the good books made it into the libraries.

Mark my words - he is hiding in plain sight. I always mutter 'jimmy saville' to myself when he pops up on tv and have been saying that for YEARS

100% this. It’s only a matter of time before something comes out and I hope it’s sooner rather than later