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Original poster

Has David Walliams finally wrecked what was left of his career?

316 replies

itsnotabouthepasta · 12/06/2025 11:32

He was part of the taping of the xmas special of WILTY yesterday and did a Nazi salute twice, as "comedy"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg59q1xgv8o

At least the show immediately told him that it was utterly unacceptable and the BBC and production have also condemed him immediately, rather than this coming to light in a few years time.

Combined with this and also being booted off BGT for the way he spoke to contestants, surely there's no way back for him now on telly?

David Walliams hosts the ZSL London Zoo's annual Safari in the City fundraising gala at London Zoo. Picture date: Wednesday September 20, 2023. P

David Walliams' Nazi salute on Would I Lie To You unacceptable, BBC says

The children's author and comedian made the gestures during a recording of Would I Lie To You?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg59q1xgv8o

OP posts:
JasmineAllen · 15/06/2025 10:42

Underthinker · 14/06/2025 20:29

@GrammarTeacher I have no idea if he's a nice or a terrible person, but I've read a handful of his books to/with the kids and to say they are racist,classist and fat phobic is very over the top. He's not my favourite kids author but the books' messages are generally positive.

I agree. My children really enjoyed his books and I read some of them with our children and can't recall anything offensive jumping out.

Blinky21 · 15/06/2025 10:50

I've met him, he's unpleasant, I thought Little Britain was an rip off of League of Gentleman, but no where near as clever or funny

Flyswats · 15/06/2025 11:26

Greedybilly · 12/06/2025 12:22

Vile little man

He's actually very tall. But yes, definitely vile. Always vile, creepy and underhand.

He's fine though, he has millions and he can keep writing, under different names or for different people, and stay off screen.

PointsSouth · 15/06/2025 11:58

@GrammarTeacher I don’t know if you watched the most recent episodes of Casualty but his name is one that young women working in publishing are warned about.

.....I'm going to need more dots before I can join all that up.

JHound · 15/06/2025 15:50

PointsSouth · 12/06/2025 18:29

Ignoring is an individual action,

Cancelling is a semi-orchestrated group action.

The OED is pretty clear about this usage. (Usage updated in 2021.)

More to the point, it's clear in the way we form the verb - always as a passive....

"He was cancelled..."

....because there's no specific person doing the cancelling.

It wouldn't make sense to say "I cancelled David Walliams."

Edited
Show quote history

Incorrect.

At source it merely means to withdraw support for somebody. And that absolutely can occur on an individual level.

https://www.planoly.com/glossary/canceled#:~:text=The%201991%20film%20%22New%20Jack,media%20in%20driving%20cancel%20culture.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cancel_culture

Even your cited OED definition makes clear it can be an individual action:

https://www.oed.com/dictionary/cancel_v

“al sense (2021)

  1. 1990–
  2. colloquial (originally U.S.). transitive. To dismiss, reject, or get rid of (a person or thing). In later use, esp. in the context of social media: to publicly boycott, ostracize, or withdraw support from (a person, institution, etc.) thought to be promoting culturally unacceptable ideas.
and:

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/cancel

to completely reject and stop supportingsomeone, especially because they have said something that offends you:

notmyrealnameok · 15/06/2025 16:18

myplace · 12/06/2025 12:24

Actually I’m slightly torn. Can’t stand the man. Gives me the creeps. A lot of his comedy is cruel.

However… comedy does push the boundaries. ‘Allo ‘Allo was full of nazi salutes. I’m not sure this is the thing to cancel him for.

Being an arse to people, yes absolutely.

Allo Allo was brilliant

Cicero1 · 20/12/2025 18:20

And Mel Brooks "Producers" would be banned nowadays. I have never thought Walliams particularly amusing, but censoring comedy is very Nazi isn't it

BIossomtoes · 20/12/2025 18:35

Cicero1 · 20/12/2025 18:20

And Mel Brooks "Producers" would be banned nowadays. I have never thought Walliams particularly amusing, but censoring comedy is very Nazi isn't it

It’s on at the Garrick Theatre right now.

chaosmaker · 20/12/2025 21:25

I love 'The Producers'

Londonrach1 · 20/12/2025 21:33

Hopefully. Don't know how anyone didn't know as been well known for years .

IAmKerplunk · 20/12/2025 22:19

Didn’t see this thread when it was posted back in June but I have actually just laughed out loud at the incorrect usage of ‘toeing the line’ and blaming it on regional dialect 🤣🤣

I wonder if some of the posters on this thread have changed their stance on DW in light of the recent news.

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 21/12/2025 00:18

Cicero1 · 20/12/2025 18:20

And Mel Brooks "Producers" would be banned nowadays. I have never thought Walliams particularly amusing, but censoring comedy is very Nazi isn't it

What tosh. The Producers wouldn't be banned. Jojo Rabbit came out just a few years ago.

PassingStranger · 21/12/2025 00:43

TheKindPlumHelper · 12/06/2025 20:50

I enjoy David. I think he’s funny. I also know that comedy tastes vary and some may not agree.

That’s okay.

Some of these comments about David could libellous. I wouldn’t wish anyone to be sued.

Show quote history

Exactly, stick to facts and mumsnet should be intervening too.

Rumorus and hearsay are not facts.
Fact hes been dropped by his publisher.

LoafofSellotape · 09/01/2026 12:45

CaveMum · 09/01/2026 11:05

TRIE did a very interesting summary of the subject earlier this week.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-entertainment/id1718287198?i=1000743882647

Just listened to it- very interesting indeed!!

DiamondThrone · 09/01/2026 14:56

Cicero1 · 20/12/2025 18:20

And Mel Brooks "Producers" would be banned nowadays. I have never thought Walliams particularly amusing, but censoring comedy is very Nazi isn't it

Er, it's on in London at the moment and is so popular that its run has been extended!

https://theproducersmusical.com/

The Producers West End Tickets | Official Website

Get tickets from £20 and see Mel Brooks’ musical adaptation of The Producers this Autumn following a ★★★★★ sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

https://theproducersmusical.com

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